#he has adopted kids too. we’re just the only two he had a hand in creating

[marsbars1714]

Happy ‘two years ago, on this day, I came to the realization that my father’s bloodline would die out because me and my sister, his only bio children, are both trans homosexuals who plan on never having biological kids’ day

[beingsuneone]

Memories & Delusions

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE

SYNOPSIS: Jason Todd is dead, you have to remember that; even if the newest villain in town is both incredibly sexy and reminds you of the boy you used to love.

FANDOM: DC

PAIRING(S): Jason Todd x Fem!Reader

RATING: PG

CHARACTERS MENTIONED: Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Tim

GENRE/AU: fluff, different timeline AU (not mentioned in detail but the timeline is different than canon), canon divergence, reader is kind of like Stephanie so NOT Bruce’s kids but she does live in the manor.

WORD COUNT: 3.9k

WARNINGS: Swearing, mentions of blood and injuries.

A/N: I could fs do a part two to this ;)

DEDICATIONS: Myself for having this idea for more than two years and finally getting it out in writing in some way

CREDITS: N/A

“Jesus Christ! Who the fuck is this guy, Batman?” You exclaim, panting hard through your mask; whoever this Red Hood guy is… he really knows your team's weaknesses. It’s disconcerting.

Weirdly enough, he’s left you mostly alone.

Bruce shrugs from across the room. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

It’s a blur of movement as Red Hood tries to attack mostly Bruce, only attacking Dick or you if you get in the way.

He’s said almost nothing since this fight started.

After a few minutes, Bruce sends a signal and jumps out of the half destroyed building; Dick follows and jumps out shortly after.

Leaving just you and Gothams latest criminal.

You’re about to turn to jump again, when suddenly your wrist is caught in Red Hood’s hand.

The familiarity of it makes you gasp and freeze.

He stares down at you, intimidating and silent through his red helmet.

Returning his stare, with as much fiery energy as you can muster, you try to pull your wrist away; His grip is like iron and you can’t.

“Don’t get in my way, Y/n.” He says, making your heart drop with the use of your civilian name. “I won’t choose between you and my goal.”

Your back is rigid and you’re breathing has stopped… if he knows your name, that means he probably knows everyone else’s too.

Fuck.

He finally lets go, brushing past your stiff body.

You’re too shocked to follow him.

….

“He knew my name, Bruce!” You say, feeling panicked. “Do you know what that means?”

Bruce nods curtly. “It means you aren’t suiting up until we’ve taken him down.” You try to protest but Bruce holds a hand up to cut you off. “It’s not up for discussion.”

You fidget with the small red pendant hanging around your neck, something you do whenever you’re feeling too many emotions.

It reminds you of Jason, the first boy you’ve ever been in love with and also the last; Jason was also Bruce’s second adopted son.

Jason Todd died five years ago.

But when he was alive… There was something special about him. He was always so eager to help Bruce by being robin.

That was back before you had your own suit; really, you’d only gotten a superhero identity so you could hunt down the joker and get revenge for Jason, but Bruce had managed to convince you not to do that in the last five years.

Probably for the best, even if seventeen is too young for someone to die; even if having a strong bond ripped away from you before it could become anything still hurt so badly.

You follow Bruce down into the batcave. “What do we know about Red Hood? Do we have any idea how he originated? It seems like he just popped out of nowhere.”

Bruce contemplates his answer as he unlocks the bat computer. “All we know is that he would have had to fly under our radar for months in order to take over the whole underground drug ring.”

You over hover his shoulder, trying to see what’s on the screen below him. “I don’t understand how we wouldn’t hear anything about him? With that many people who work for him, you’d think one of them would mention something.”

He hums in response. “They must be terrified of him.”

Alfred inserts himself into the conversation and ushers you back into the main part of the manor. “Alright, Miss. Y/n, You’re officially off duty indefinitely.” He pauses. “Like Master Bruce said, it is safer if you disconnect yourself from your hero identity.”

You frown. “If he knows my real name, he probably knows where I live.”

“He also told you, quote ‘don’t get in my way’ end quote.” Alfred tuts. “He clearly has no intention of hurting you as a civilian.”

You huff and head up to your bedroom, feeling like you really need to be out there but not really knowing why.

You suppose you don’t know what to do with your time anymore, now that you’ve been superhero-ing for so long.

When was the last time you read a book? Or watched a movie, just because you wanted to? It’s been too long…

Your bookshelves mostly carry decorative encyclopedias and other books that would bore you to sleep, so you leave your room and head just down the hallway.

The door creaks as you push open and clicks when you push it shut; then, you’re left in the silence of Jason Todd’s bedroom. Unchanged and untouched from the last moment he was in here.

It’s a little messy but nothing out of the ordinary for a teenage boy; the bed was never made, and his clothes were ever put in his drawers despite them being washed.

There’s books pulled out and just scattered in places, schoolbooks, comic books, novels… finally you spot what you wanted to find.

It’s a very old and very worn copy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, something the two of you used to read together when you’d sneak onto the roof of the manor at nighttime.

You’d watch the stars and one of you would read the book out loud, until eventually you both would pass out and give Bruce a heart attack the next morning.

Maybe it was time to revisit that tradition, even if you were only reading to yourself.

Bruce and Alfred are in the Cave so you find your way into the roof and lay back. The shingles are definitely more uncomfortable without Jason to lay on, but it’s still a nice feeling nonetheless.

Just the act of laying under the stars with that book in your hands, makes you feel a kind of warmth that you haven’t felt in years.

You close your eyes and take a long, deep breath of night air; It’s fresh and ever so slightly damp, but in a way that makes you feel nice. The cold nips at your body in all the right ways.

Unfortunately, all bliss is momentary, and someone clearing their throat makes you jump a couple centimeters upwards.

You’re met with the bright red helmet of Red Hood.

“Pride and Prejudice, huh?” He says casually, though you're pretty sure he has a voice changer on, which makes his voice sound more irritated than it probably is.

You back up a few inches. “Bru-” Red Hood slaps a hand over your mouth before you can finish yelling for help.

You squirm in his grip, but he just maneuvers you so that your back is to his chest and you can barely move which makes your body lock up again— you can’t help the feeling of familiarity that settles in your stomach, or the way your body reacts to his.

Worst of all, he smells just like… no, it must just be where you are.

Jason Todd is dead.

And yet.

“Relax, Y/n, I’m not here to hurt you.” Something about him makes you listen and you relax your body. He kind of half-scoffs in response. “Are you done?”

You nod as best you can. He releases you.

“Who— why are you here?” You say, trying to ignore the fact that everything about this masked man reminds you of Jason.

Your chest rises and falls irregularly as he stares at you.

His head snaps away randomly. “Why should I tell you that?”

“Don’t answer my question with a question.”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.”

There’s a look of defiance shared between the two of you, or, at least, on your end. You can’t actually see his face so you’re really just assuming.

You spin away and blow out a labored breath. “God, I must be going insane…” Even the way he talks with you sounds like Jason.

“You’re so short, you look like a bunny who lost its carrot.” He says with a laugh.

“I do not!” You exclaim angrily, your mouth dropping open. “Okay, that’s it, I’m calling Bruce.” Your hand slips into your pocket to pull out your phone, and just as it's out of your pocket, Red Hood grabs your wrist; he traps it in one spot and yanks the phone from your hand.

He gently sets it on the ground. “Tell that fucker whatever you want, but wait until I’m gone.” The tone in his voice sends a chill down your spine. He seems so angry…

With that, he leaves, taken the same way that you took off the roof.

You stand there until you hear the roar of his motorbike, and then you finally retreat from the roof with the book clutched tightly to your chest.

…..

“I’m going with you, Bruce. You can’t stop me.” You say, already moving to try to grab your suit.

“No, you’re not.” He says sternly, blocking your path. “You need to stay out of this fight.”

You raise your eyebrows in challenge. “I’m going whether you let me wear that suit or not.” Bruce apparently doesn’t like this because he frowns even harder than before. You continue, “You can’t go alone. Dick is out of town and Tim is at school. Let me come.”

“You forget I did this by myself for quite a while before I adopted Dick.” He says firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Bruce doesn’t need your help, you know that; helping him isn’t your real goal.

Ever since the rooftop incident with Red Hood you’d gone into some sort of obsessive spiral over his similarities to Jason.

You feel like you need to talk to him again, touch him again… just to see why he’s so familiar; you feel insane.

The deepest parts of your brain scream at you that it’s not just similarities, that he really is Jason but… he can’t be; you watched them bury Jason’s body.

“There’s something else going on with you.” Bruce says, basically sizing you up.

You stiffen, which unfortunately gives away your next lie. “There’s nothing going on with me.” No excuse comes to mind so you don’t say anything more.

Bruce pauses for a beat.

“This has nothing to do with Red Hood.”

“Okay? Why would that matter?” You say dismissively, but also way too fast. “I don’t think keeping me locked up at home helps anyone.”

He sighs and finally caves. “Fine, you can come.”

…..

You aren’t sure how this situation devolved so quickly, but your communications got cut off a while ago and you haven’t been able to find Bruce or navigate very well through the rubble.

You’re bleeding heavily from a few different cuts and you’re pretty sure you sprained your ankle.

The faint cackle of the Joker makes you dive under a fallen piece of concrete, because if he comes this way he’ll surely kill you.

But the laugh recedes so you crawl out and sit against it instead.

You’re just about to start sobbing from the pain when you hear footsteps again; you go silent and try to move but you don't allow that.

You see a flash of red, and then Red Hood turns a corner into your line of sight.

“Christ’s sake, Y/n.” He mumbles. “What happened?” He approaches and drops down so he’s sitting on his feet, he stares for a moment, and you assume he’s assessing your injuries.

“You can’t call me that— here.” You hiss when he presses a finger against your ankle.

He stands up and takes both your hands, completely ignoring what you said. “Up. But don’t stand on your bad ankle.”

You grip his hands and stand up, holding your bad ankle in the air; Red Hood scoops you up bridal style not a moment later.

You squeal. “What are you doing?”

He stops walking and turns the face of his helmet directly toward you. “I’m taking you back to my base so I can help you get fixed up.” He interrupts you before you can speak, answering the question you were going to ask. “Batman isn’t here anymore, he went to follow after the Joker.”

It’s a rough walk to his bike, and it lasts for about ten minutes; ten awkward minutes of you being carried by Red Hood.

Red Hood who’s supposed to be a criminal and your enemy. Red Hood who brings you more comfort than he should just because of who he reminds you of.

He settles you onto the bike, pulling out an extra helmet before he speeds off.

…..

“Jesus, you sprained your ankle really badly.” He curses, performing whatever medical procedures as you hiss and whine at the pain.

He’s already stitched and/or dressed any of the open wounds you had and he saved the worst for last.

“Okay,” he says absent-mindedly. “I can’t do this properly with this thing.”

He reaches for his helmet but you stop him. “You’re taking your helmet off?”

He hesitates, then nods slowly. “I have to. If you don’t want to see, then shut your eyes until I’m done.”

You nod and squeeze your eyes shut.

He sighs softly and gets back to working on your ankle.

…..

“I swear to god, Bruce, it’s him. Red Hood is Jason.” You say, purposfully making your voice flat and void of emotion. “He has to be.”

Bruce just stares.

And stares.

Sympathetically, softly. But he stares.

“Jason has been dead for a long time, Y/n, and you know that.”

“No— I know, but he can’t be— that has to be him.” You back up into one of the chairs in the batcave, trying to calm your racing heart; you still try to keep a calm outward facade.

“What makes you think he’s Jason?” Bruce asks.

You weakly gesture at nothing with your hand. “Just look at him. He’s— everything about him is the same.”

Tim snorts from the computer. “The running drug rings and murders?”

“Not appropriate, Tim.” Dick says flatly and Tim’s face falls quickly.

You don’t blame him, you probably would have made a joke like that too.

Shaking your head, you stare at the floor past Bruce. “They sound the same, they talk the same way, they look similar— hell, they even smell the same.”

Bruce’s brows furrow. “How do you know what he smells like?”

“Uh…” you stall. “You know, close combat.”

Apparently, he drops it even though he clearly doesn’t believe you, because he asks another question. “We’ve never seen Red Hood unmasked, how do you know they look similar?”

You shrug. “They just do. There’s just something about him. I haven’t been able to shake the feeling for a while.”

It’s silent again for several long moments.

Then Bruce shakes his head absentmindedly.

“Jason is dead, Y/n. No matter how much we miss him, he can’t come back.”

But he’s wrong, he has to be.

Because no one is that similar to someone. You’re sure of it.

……

Your cheeks are wet and your eyes are starting to become raw from you rubbing at them.

Sobbing pathetically on the rooftop of the manor because you had to be reminded about a death that happened a long time ago is not the highlight of your day.

It’s stupid, going from sure of yourself, to telling yourself you’re so stupid for ever thinking it could be true in the first place.

There’s footsteps beside you, but you don’t look up. You don’t care enough to see who it is.

You fidget with the necklace around your neck as you sniffle into your knees.

Something clicks and then hisses as if air pressure is being released before you hear a tiny thud, and then someone pulls you into them.

You know who it is now.

“What’s wrong?” He asks quietly. You know you could look up and confirm your suspicions at any moment but you just can’t bring yourself to do it.

It’s not true, after all, because it can’t be. It’s not possible.

You shrug against him. “I’m reopening old wounds for no reason.” You pause. “Why do you trust me?”

He’s silent, contemplative for a while. “You’re you.”

You laugh dryly. “That doesn’t explain anything.”

“You haven’t even bothered to look have you?” His hand strokes lines in your hair. “You could. I don’t think I’d mind.”

“I don’t want to know.” You say, wrapping your arms around his waist. “I’m not ready for that.”

He nods, you can feel the movement through his body, even though it’s subtle.

You sit, wrapped up in his arms for a long while before he clears his throat softly and asks, “what old wounds have you been reopening?”

Your eyes well again, but you choke back the tears. “An old… friend, I guess. He died.” You start to pull back but you don’t look at his face.

Instead, you bury your face in your hands again. He lets you pull back. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

You shrug. “It was a long time ago, he just meant a lot to me— and it’s really hard because you remind me so much of him.”

He makes a sort of strangled sound and then clears his throat again but more rough this time. “Why do you say that?”

His voice sounds even more similar without the helmet and voice changer. This man is going to be the death of you. Maybe literally. “I don’t… I don’t know. It’s just everything.” You shake your head and laugh sardonically. “It’s driving me insane.”

“How did he die?” His voice is darker than before, and there’s a sort of undertone you can’t place.

“Brutally.” You stop, take a deep breath, and offer only a bit more context. “The Joker.”

He hums. “The Joker‘s alive and ruling this dumb city.” He pauses. “How do you think your friend would feel about that?”

“Probably about the same as I do. Sick.” You run a hand through your hair, purposefully trying to avoid seeing his face. “That’s why I became a hero, you know. I wanted to kill the joker because he killed Ja- um, my friend.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“People stopped me before I did something I couldn’t come back from.” You say, wrapping your arms around your legs. “I hope the joker suffers a terrible death, but I don’t think it should be by my hands. He wins if I spend the rest of my existence regretting it.”

Red Hood picks up his helmet and clicks it back on. “Right.” He stands and stares down at you. “I have to leave now.”

You shudder at his sudden coldness, and stand abruptly. “Okay, I— um, goodbye…?” You want to smack yourself at how unsure you sound. “Did I say something wrong?”

He shakes his head. “I just don’t know why you would ever regret ridding the world of someone like The Joker, that’s all.”

Stiffly, you nod and wipe your hands on your pants.

“Sorry about your friend.” He finishes, before leaving you alone on the roof again. “Too bad I didn’t know him.”

Basically, crushing any hopes you might’ve had that he was Jason.

……

This is an atrociously stupid idea, you know; driving directly into the den of Gotham's biggest drug lord is the smartest thing to do.

But Gotham's biggest drug lord is Red Hood, and you’re fairly sure he won’t hurt you. Mostly.

His lackeys though, don’t seem so forgiving.

“Who the hell are you?” The man who barks the question at you, is raggedy looking and has the worst, most distasteful tattoos you’ve seen in your life.

“I’m here to see Red Hood.” You amend quickly, “I’m a friend of his.”

“Yeah, right.” The other guard says, a bulky looking woman who is also insanely beautiful… unsettlingly so. “A fragile little thing like you, friends with our boss… please.”

You scoff. “Trust me, I’m not fragile.” Stopping, you contemplate whether it’s a good idea to start something, considering your ankle is still healing. “Just call him.”

She rolls her eyes. “Fine, whatever.”

An old phone hangs on the wall and she picks up the receiver and quickly dials a number. “Hey, I have a woman here who says she’s the bosses friend— her name? I have no clue— Oi, what’s your name?” The woman barks at you.

“Y/n.”

“Her name’s Y/n.” She’s silent for a minute while we all wait, then she hangs up the phone aggressively and yanks your arm into her grip. “Lucky. Let’s go.”

The corridors are a bit confusing to navigate, but you’re mostly just following the woman, who seems very familiar with them.

After ten minutes you reach a door, it matches almost every other door, but it has ‘boss’ written crudely on it in spray paint.

“You’re on your own from here.” She says gruffly before stomping away.

You take a moment to collect yourself before you knock, and the door swings open before you can even finish knocking.

“Why are you here?” Red Hood sounds breathless behind his mask, as if something winded him. “How did you remember how to get here?”

“I’m… actually not sure.” You chuckle quietly to yourself as Red Hood pulls you inside.

He sits down at a desk after pulling a chair out for you to sit in. “Again, why are you here?”

Your heart seizes for a moment as if the reason why you’re here hit you all over again. “I want you to show me who you are.”

“Are you sure?” Red Hood questions slowly, his body locking up. “You’re not going to like it.”

You nod curtly. “Yes, I need to know.”

He takes a deep breath and stands up, coming right up close to you. Far enough that you could see his face clearly but close enough to have your knees buckling.

He reaches up and presses a button you can’t see. The helmet hisses and opens, he pulls it off.

And your jaw drops.

Standing there, in grown up glory, black hair, green eyes that used to kill you, is Jason Fucking Todd.

“You’re— You’re not— dead.” You stammer, almost reaching out to touch him before you yank your hand back.

You’re so irrationally angry and also relieved and devastated all at the same time.

Jason sets the helmet down. You can’t decide whether to hug him and never let go or slap him for waiting so long to tell you. “That’s a… complicated story.” He pauses. “I promise I’ll tell you that story but I just— can’t get into that right now.”

You nod slowly. “Okay… that means I can get fucking pissed now.”

You’ve clearly confused him when you wrap your hands around his waist and squeeze tightly while also cursing him out. “I can’t believe you waited this long to show me.”

You can see the smart-ass comment on the tip of his tongue but he bites it back. “I knew you’d find out eventually.” His eyes caress your body and there’s a look of longing lingering in his eyes; he seems to be contemplating something. “Fuck it, I’ve been waiting too long to do this.”

You barely have time to react as Jason lowers his face down to yours and kisses you; As soon as you realize what he’s doing, you kiss back.

His hands go to rest on your hips, as you slowly get pushed back into his desk behind you. When you hit the ledge of if, Jason lifts you onto its surface, and pulls back.

“I’ve wanted to do that since we were kids.” He says quietly.

You gently touch your lips, almost in disbelief. “I’ve been wanting you to do that since we were kids.”

All content belongs to @beingsuneone , do not repost, copy or post on other platforms without my permission.

[55sturn]

✮ SWALLOWIN’ MY PRIDE

series masterlist!

pairing: boston bruins player!chris sturniolo x fem!reader!

synopsis: in which chris is forced to swallow his pride as he comes to terms with the new that y/n has shared, realizing it’s not just her fault. however when he mentions the alternatives, he fails to see how much it hurts his girlfriend.

warnings: swearing, angst, chris not wanting a kid, verbal arguments, big talks about abortions and giving the kid up for adoption, mentions and descriptions of vomiting, a loooot of angst tbh.

important things to note: this is a heavy chapter so please keep that in mind if you choose to keep reading, i’ve done my part and have warned you about what this chapter entails so please do yours and close out of this fic if you cannot handle those topics. i am not your mother i cannot stop you, but if you choose to keep going despite being uncomfortable with the things i’ve warned you about, you are not allowed to get upset with anyone but yourself. enjoy<3

THIRD PERSON POV

chris was left utterly speechless as he stared at the thin plastic stick in his hand. the only thing running through his mind, was “what am i going to do? i just signed the contract today?” he felt guilty being so absorbed in his doubts about his career but it was something he had worked for his entire life. he knew his concerns were selfish, he knew that, but he couldn’t stop worrying about them.

the words “we’re pregnant, chris.” rang in his ears like a bell chiming, he felt his breath get stuck in his throat and he wasn’t able to breathe. he quickly shifted y/n off his lap so he could begin pacing, he held his head in his hands as his skates clunked against the padded locker room floor.

“what the fuck are we going to do y/n?” chris spits, his voice broken and unsteady as he looks at his girlfriend, her eyes red with unshed tears as she shook her head softly and shrugged.

“i don’t know chris.”

“why weren’t you careful?” chris exclaims, unintentionally putting all the blame on her as her head snaps up, her brows furrowed tightly as she breathes out a listless laugh.

“how is this all my fault?”

“i’m not saying it’s your fault. but why didn’t you just get an abortion?”

“in case you forgot what you were taught in fifth grade health class, it takes two people to make a baby, chris. you were the one that wanted to hit it raw and you promised to pull out but clearly you didn’t. and i didn’t want to abort it without your input because this child is half of you, too. and i would not be able to sit through that alone!“ she scoffs, tears dripping down her cheeks as she stares up at him, guilt and regret chipping away at the slight glimmer of hope that chris would be okay with it that she held.

“i just signed a good contract baby, i can’t miss my games for this shit.” chris sighs, his heart rate slowing down, but his mind was still racing, leaving him blind to the internal battle his girlfriend was facing.

he felt sick, he had everything mapped out for the next five years and this baby completely threw a wrench in everything that he had meticulously planned. there was no way a baby this early in his career would look good, it’d make him look reckless and uncaring about his job.

“do you not think i’ve been thinking about that, chris? that’s the only thing i’ve been thinking about since i found out or even had the slightest idea i was pregnant, i have been terrified of derailing the life plans you’ve set up for yourself and i don’t know what the fuck to do but what i do know, is that we’re pregnant and we have to make a decision about this. so until you’ve processed this, you can stay with one of your brothers, i will be waiting at home.” y/n replies, her voice gradually getting quieter and breaking even more as she finishes. wiping her tears, she quickly exists the room, the need to vomit overcoming her.

her mind wouldn’t stop racing. it brought every possible scenario to the surface and she was beyond scared. what was she going to do? chris sure as hell didn’t seem to want the baby, and she thought she didn’t either but talking about it to chris had her realizing that she wants a family more than anything.

as she knelt in front of the toilet, she couldn’t help but laugh internally. finding out you’re expecting a child was supposed to be a joyous and happy time. finding out that you’re carrying a life that is half of yourself and the person you’re in love with, the person you’re fully committed to for life, was supposed to have you feeling over the moon. and instead, it had y/n’s stomach twisting with guilt, regret, heartache, and distress.

ash she wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet, she sat on the edge of it, letting her tears fall as she let the feelings of hopelessness and loss fully consume her heart. would she really see this pregnancy to term if chris didn’t want anything to do with her and the baby? if she did, would she let chris back into her life when he decides he wants a family? or would he seek a family somewhere else?

“how the fuck am i going to survive this without him?” she whispered to herself, quickly exiting the public washroom and making a beeline for the front entrance.

chris on the other hand, was stoic as he stared at the wall opposite of him, the thin plastic stick beside him taunting him and his mind, almost as if it was telling him that he was acting selfishly. instead of comforting his girlfriend, who was as equally terrified of their recent news as chris, if not more? he blamed her. he yelled at her.

he callously told her to abort their baby to be. to get rid of the life growing inside her as if it meant nothing. as if it wasn’t the product of two people that loved each other deeply. even if it wasn’t planned or considered, that child to be was still the result of chris and y/n’s love. of the fact that they held each other so closely that they made love without any preventative measures. but chris couldn’t look at it that way, he didn’t want to.

his focus was on his career, hockey was everything to him. it made him everything he is. but was hockey really the only thing that mattered to chris? as he mulled over the answer, images of y/n sobbing as she held the freshly positive test, of her sobbing and scared in front of him waiting for him to pull her into his arms in the middle of that locker room flash through his mind. he felt guilty, he hadn’t even hugged her as she sobbed, he so badly wishes he could rewind the clock a few minutes so he could react differently but he couldn’t.

he knew he wanted a family at some point in his life, but now? it was so early. he wanted to bask in all the glory of being the newest and youngest star on the bruins without the responsibilities of his personal life hanging over his head. but that wasn’t possible.

as his team made their way down the hall, chris shoved the test into the side pocket of his hockey bag and plastered a fake smile on his face. the team cheered and hollered as they had won the game. chris joined in on the festivities, briefly forgetting the decision he had to make as the team got dressed in their suits and dress clothes, deciding to hit the bar in the lounge above the rink nd celebrate their win and landing bracket in the playoffs.

y/n was in the complete opposite state, she sat at the table, the meal she had prepped hours ago as soon as she got home after leaving the game early sat on the table in front of her. it had grown cold and stale as she tried to bring the urge to eat to life but she couldn’t bear the thought of choking back her food. she hated eating without chris. she knew he wasn’t going to join her after she told him to stay with one his brothers, but out of pure muscle memory she made a plate for him and it sat across the table from her, taunting her, as if to say “this is what your future will look like if chris decides he doesn’t want the baby.” and it broke her heart into a million shards.

could she really handle a life without him? they’ve been together for so long as it is. was it worth it to go through everything that they have already, just for a child to tear them apart? she didn’t know the answer to that and she didn’t want to. she hoped that somehow, chris’ mind would change and he would have this great epiphany and realize he wants this, the family life with y/n.

she knew how important this spot on the bruins’ team was to chris, she knew that more than anybody else. but was it more important than a life with the woman he called his soulmate? was his career more important to him than his relationship?

y/n, truthfully, had began to believe it was. he would call off dates and anniversary dinners to go hang out with the team, he would come home late the nights he promised to be home early. he put so much of their time together on the back burner, and maybe this child was the wake-up call she needed. maybe she wasn’t cut out for the life of dating a superstar hockey player.

sighing, she cleared the plates off, putting the leftovers in an air-tight container and leaving them for her or, hopefully, chris to eat another day. she quickly loaded the dishwasher and started it before cleaning the rest of the kitchen. as she had finished, she flicked off the main kitchen light, leaving the light above the stove on so that when chris came home, if he had made up his mind yet, he wouldn’t be surrounded by complete darkness. but she knew in the back of her mind, chris coming home tonight was just wishful thinking.

as she laid in bed, she scrolled through instagram, chris’ story updates catching her eye. pressing down on his profile circle surrounded by a pinkish purple ring, she was met with the sight of chris and john shot gunning beer in their suits, leaving her slightly hurt that instead of talking about things with her or his brothers he chose to party with his team. she knew that making an appearance at the after parties was important, she had just hoped their situation was more important. but refusing to let herself dwell on what she meant to chris, she rolled over and willed herself to sleep.

it had been a few days since her confession to chris and she had yet to hear even just a single word from him. and the silence was killing her. after her doctors appointment, which confirmed that she was in fact two months along, she had received texts of congratulations and more from his family so she assumed he had said something and maybe he wasn’t completely ashamed of what was happening, but she had a gnawing feeling of doubt in her stomach telling her that wasn’t the case.

“matt i don’t know what to think.” chris sighed, looking to his more level-headed brother for advice in this situation.

“well chris, do you really want her to abort it? like can you live with the fact that you’re putting her through that, you know that she’s completely all for it, but it’s different when it’s the one going through it. so would you be able to live with the fact that you’re pushing her to take away this chance, both of yours and hers, at a family right now?”

“well when you put it that way-“

“and who’s to say that you won’t be looking at having a family the same way down the line if, let’s say, she aborts the baby now and this entire thing happens again? would you put her through it twice? when you could just as easily implement all the later plans with your career that included a family into your plans for now. it would be much easier to maneuver things around right because the ink on your contract has barely dried yet. you do it later down the line and shit could go up in flames. but if you’re still dead set on pushing her to an abortion, by all means do it. it’s up to you man but from the way you’ve talk about it, y/n wants to have a family so what you’re doing is most likely killing her, and if you pushing her to do this wrecks your relationship, you won’t find another girl to love you the way she does. and i know you didn’t actually ask for it, but my opinion is that you’re being a fucking idiot. you and i both know that all you’ve wanted with y/n is to raise a family. you talked about your future kids’ names with her two months into the start of your relationship. so i’m not sure why you’re doing all this shit, chris.” matt rambled, his words cutting directly into the flesh of chris’ heart, he knew matt was right. every word he spoke nothing but truth clinging to it. so why was he putting both him and y/n, mainly y/n, through all of this? sighing, chris nodded and thanked him for the advice before plucking his keys off the counter of matt’s kitchen before heading out the door and climbing into his car.

chris made quick work of driving home to y/n, he felt so unbelievably guilty for leaving her alone with her thoughts for as long as he had. as he stepped into their shared home, he felt like an intruder, he didn’t feel like himself, because in what world would chris, the same chris who is so unbelievably and irrevocably in love with y/n, push her to terminate their child? chris should’ve been ecstatic and sobbing over the news. instead he let his job cloud his judgement and focus, and he felt terrible.

“baby?” chris calls out, quickly climbing the entryway stairs and standing in the main hallway, waiting for y/n to answer.

“in here.” she calls back, her voice tired and strained from all the crying she had done. as chris rounds the corner into their room, his heart breaks at the sight of her curled up on his side of the bed in his hoodie.

“i am so sorry y/n, i’ve been an asshole.”

“i’ll say.” she whispers, shifting back to her side of the bed as chris climbs in beside her.

“i want to apologize for blaming you, it’s not your fault. and for suggesting an abortion without actually hearing what you want. if you want one, i’ll support you. i talked to matt and he made me realize what a jackass i’ve been. if you genuinely want this baby, then i do too. i love you, and i want you to be safe and happy. and if having a family makes you happy, then i’m willing to raise this baby with you because in all honesty, i do want this baby.”

“what about your career?”

“we’ll figure that out when we need to.”

“okay. i love you.”

“i love you forever and a day, y/n. i’m so sorry i’ve been so shitty, i was scared and lashed out on you when i should’ve acknowledged that you were scared too, i shouldn’t have let you deal with it on your own.” chris hums, wrapping his arms around her as she dries her tears and rest her head against his chest.

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[missmarveledsblog]

Flumpy ( Jake Seresin x reader) part 15

summary : the news of twins is share and its countdown to when they come , more old faces come to help with new home and flumpy meets her neighbours in well true flumpy fashion ... a groove in the kitchen well has them waiting for the moment they been waiting for ...

warning : goofy fluffy humour , hormones , pregnancy is fast tracked , not proof read soz

previously on flumpy

Picture perfect moment was the only thing she could even remotely call it when she stood holding two pink baby onesies in her hand  .   they instantly said girl as she hinted the plural  wasn’t til jake got bored and told them …

“ i put two buns in that oven” slight fear in his voice as he spoke given the shock still prevalent . 

“ oh OHHH TWINS .. SHE’S HAVING TWINS “. 

“ well done bob you adorable human … i wanna adopt him “ she sighed . 

“ we’re not adopting baby on board “ jake rolled his eyes .

“ stop pouting you can’t adopt a fully grown man even if he reminds you of bob from the minions pretty girl “ rooster patted her cheek . 

“ ok skipping that … twins” nat asked. 

“ yeah shy one in there or trouble i not too sure , hid her little ass behind her sister , i thought my kid had extra arm and head for a moment” she shuddered. “ ohhh “ her eyes widened as she held her stomach .

“ is the babies … her sit down .. call a doctor or hospital “ jake lead her to the stool as rest panicked.  “ darling what is it speak to me “ . 

“ we’re gonna need a bigger house “ she smiled up brightly as they all stopped. 

Saturdays were usually beach days  this saturday was driving around looking at bigger houses .  she had it written down a checklist of what their dream home would look like and honestly after she scared the shit out of him and took breather well it was a better step .  they would be crowded in the house and rooster was still going to be living with them plus more rooms when guest stayed  , for peanut and he knew future rescues he was still waiting for the day she’d come home with a box of ducks it hasn’t happened yet but he was waiting for it .  most of the house felt off , they didn’t scream home   til this one it wasn’t too far from base nor beach or hard deck . it had big spacious  back  garden  and she was smiling whole time .  a basement the two men  already swapping ideas to convert into man cave .  perfection  even more when they’re offer was accepted  watching the dagger squad as well as her dad and beau simpson started moving things.  Anytime she even so much as look at box it was taking up away from her .    she watched as they moved around  ready to slip out the door to see a new neighbor and a reason to see it was too good to be true .

“ welcome to the neighborho… y/n “ 

“ michelle” she groaned. 

“ you live here?” her face scrunched up . 

“ jake we’re moving again “ she called back . 

“ not happening flumpy dear” he chuckled  til he saw the demon woman standing at the door. “ i have the realtors number”he chuckled awkwardly. 

“ bye have a good day , tell annabeth we say hello” she called closing the door . 

“ hey i wanted to say hello to our new neighbor “ rooster  ran up . 

“ you really don't “ they both said heading back into the house . 

“ oh oh we need food i can least do that right “ she called pulling out her phone . 

“ who’s our neighbor?” rooster asked confused. 

It seemed having the navy set up house was both proficient , getting the navy to set up a nursery well other story completely . she was aloud paint as far as she could reach  while she grumbled  “ i’m not going to break the damn ladder” along the way.  7 months and three weeks pregnant it was getting more real , the house was coming together and  peanut was thriving ,   jake was home and she was supported by a bigger family she ever thought she would have .  it was all so magical and amazing she had all of this . 

“ baby are you crying?”  jake put down the screw . 

“Again” javy muttered. 

“ i’m just happy this time or mental  but i never thought i would have all this “ she sniffled. 

“ it is a nice house” fanboy agreed. 

“ not the house idiot all of you even luke “ she cried . 

“ i think she happy to have us as family and friends “ rooster smiled kissing her head. 

“ we love you too kiddo” beau smiled. 

“Shit she made simpson soft” payback whispered . 

The dinging of her door as she looked around the room  wondering who else it could be then dreaded thought of michelle and annabeth coming to take jake from her set in .  but what she wasn’t expecting was . 

“ hey princess “  the man smiled. 

“ uncle ron , solomon  , bernie” she gasp  before breaking into more tears alerting the others to the front door . 

“Slider , warlock , hondo  good to see you guys “ pete hugged the men . 

“ well anything for this one “ slider smiled hugging her to his side. 

 “ shit you are like part of top gun royalty “ jake smiled in awe. 

“ so your the one that knocked up my niece huh?” he stood a little taller . 

“ at ease  we’re here to help not scare him”  the voice called as sarah kazansky  pushed her way in. “ hey baby girl” she smiled hugging her tightly . 

“ you got uncle ron here” y/n sniffled . 

“ well he wanted to meet the S.O.B that got his baby pregnant “  sarah laughed as jake gulped . 

“ but we told him what great young man  he is “ warlock chuckled. 

“ i swear he did this to mav back in the day too” hondo whispered. 

“ well he was my husbands  well husband “ sarah rolled her eyes . 

“ we were never together “ pete spoke up . 

“ the eyes  they never lie…. Look all my family is here , except penny where is that woman “ she stood  looking around . 

“ getting you naco’s like you asked “ nat snorted .

 “ ah she’s good for you “ she patted her father on his cheek as she showed her new arrivals the new house still crying along the way but they sort of could understand her. 

“ your screwed if you ever hurt that girl you know that right ?” javy turned to jake. 

“ i ain’t gonna hurt her…. But yeah i’m fucked “ he winced . 

Sitting around her dinning table as they  all share stories of good ole day , the warming feeling of the people she loved most all in one space  , ruby and penny showing their faces not long after basically  top guns hall of fame sitting this was what life was for all this love in one room  and even though few couldn’t be there well they were there in away in spirit and stories .   jake could see the happiness radiating off of her  , how relaxed and peaceful she was basking in the glow of the past and how he couldn’t wait for their new future as scary and daunting it would be he was ready whatever was thrown their way as long as they were happy he was happy. 

8 months pregnant on twins not easy as she felt her soul literally being sucked out of her body and now with her maternity leave starting  honestly she wanted to pop em out so she had something to do .  she and peanut got to chill for bit  as she waved jake and roo off slightly sad to be home alone . she got to sitting on the porch as peanut enjoyed the fence yard  she couldn’t help picture the girls playing with the pup . what she didn’t like was coming out to greet bradley and jake standing with the toned up giggling barbie who she could only  known who and why she was there.  Huffing and she waddle down the path. 

“ hey my handsome men “ she cooed as the woman shot a glare. 

“ hey baby how are you” jake smiled brightly honestly waiting for anything to get him away from the girl . 

“ oh is this your little sister?” the woman chided. 

“ you must be annabitch.. Beth “ y/n smiled. 

“ this is my beautiful girl i was telling you about” jake held her close. 

“ oh your y/n my moms told me all about you “ she rolled her eyes. 

“ yeah sure she did , can we help you ?” y/n tapped her foot . 

“ you even old enough to have kid? “ she scoffed .

“ i mean gotta trap em one way keep your sugar daddy around “ she winked . 

“ she thinks she funny” jake rolled his eyes 

“ i think she is “ rooster snorted. 

“ when you need real woman not a little girl  call me “ the woman smiled sweetly . 

“ and when i need dollar store extensions  i call you bye annabitch have good day sit in a microwave   “ y/n waved  before jake led her away. “ little girl?” “ she growled waddling back up the path. 

“ big girl  very big … not in width  though so skinny” rooster called as she glared at the man . 

“ my beautiful woman huh  she  jealous cause your so radiant and gorgeous “ he cooed  kissing her cheek. 

“ i bet michelle sent her trying to have her own barbie and ken to show off to stupid friends “ she mocked the womans voice as they walked into  house .  

8 month  2 weeks pregnant she wanted it over , she was done  ready throw into the towel missing bending and seeing her feet. She waddles around the kitchen making more food singing along to her  playlist telling the two men she could make breakfast .  swaying along it really was a show with their meal.

“ looking like a chef i’m a five star michelin  .. get it cause im cooking . …oh shit the felix effect is strong” she gasped holding onto the counter  as their eyes all looked to the floor . 

“ darling ..” 

“ pretty girl was that ?” 

“ my water breaking yes “ she stood leg opened as she looked up at too men . “ this time we can go the hospital “ she winced . 

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[callsign-dexter]

From Fear to Family

Request: hi, could I pretty please request a Maverick x adopted daughter for my birthday on Monday? I was wondering if maybe sometime after the mission Maverick decided that since rooster is all grown up and doesn’t “need” him anymore he missed the feeling of being needed so he adopted a little girl, maybe 3-5, but in her short life she has had people let her down so she doesn’t trust people and she is very skittish/shy. She tries to avoid anything that has to do with trusting Maverick, like maybe the adoption place told Maverick she doesn’t let anyone hold her  and Mav is a little worried that she will never come around but maybe she gets hurt or has a nightmare or literally anything that would be a big deal for a little kid and ends up letting her guard down and trusting Maverick. After deciding that she could trust Maverick she just became this whole new child (she is playful and silly and is mavericks little shadow all day everyday). She is starting to trust him more and more and she even let Mav hold her  (you know, the little kid way, the sleepy walk and the arms in the air) and she fell asleep on his shoulder. 

this is totally your choice and there is no pressure. Sorry about the massive word dump!!

Pairings: Maverick x Adopted!Daughter!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff

Masterlist

A/N: Sorry to the anon that sent this in for their birthday for getting it out so late. Happy belated birthday and I hope you enjoy it!

When the mission was over and The Daggers became an official squad, he felt like something was missing from his life. He would go home to an empty house and it honestly made him sad, before he was barely home and he was training the pilots and that kept him busy. He and Bradley had patched their relationship but he was grown he wanted someone that needed him. He was out with The Daggers but found himself at the bar where Penny was. He watched over his squad and sighed and Penny took notice of this. “What’s wrong Pete?” She asked.

“Now that the mission is over and we’re an official squad, I come home to an empty quiet house. It just makes me sad.” He admitted and Penny nodded and listened.

“Have you ever considered adopting?” She asked

“Well yes but what happens when I’m deployed somewhere?” He asked, looking at her and she smiled.

“I’ll look after them.” She said with a smile and he knew she was being serious.

“I don't even know how to start the process.” Maverick said

“I'll help you.” Penny said and smiled and put a hand on his and he nodded and smiled.

“Thank you, Penny. Really.” He said and she smiled.

“I'll always help you when you need it. Come by the house tomorrow for lunch and we'll see what it takes.” She said and he smiled and nodded. She then turned and started to tend to her other customers. The rest of the night went smoothly. Maverick was in a better mood thinking about having a child depending on him. He joined the rest of The Daggers and ended the night with a smile.

Maverick was up early the next morning, which was a Saturday, he still had several hours before he had to be over at Penny's. Maverick walked into the second room next to his. His house had three rooms in total, all upstairs. He looked around it and it was a mess. There would be no way they would let him have a kid with it looking like this. So, he decided to start cleaning that room and the house. He wanted this; he wanted a kid. 

Before Maverick knew it, it was already 11:30 AM and he only knew this because he had looked at his watch. He had been so busy cleaning and hyping himself up he just didn't pay attention to the time. He put on his shoes and grabbed his keys and stopped to look around and smiled. It was clean, spotless, deep cleaned even all he could think about was how Carole would be so happy. She had always gone on about how messy Maverick was and well Goose was too but she was always cleaning up after him but she wouldn't have had it any other way. But if those two boys were left alone for the weekend or any length of time you can bet that everything would be a mess. You would think two Navy men who were conditioned to keep everything clean would and they did on base but not in their homes or hotel rooms. Maverick chuckled and turned around and headed out the door. 

Maverick was quick to arrive at Penny’s and he knocked on the door and she let him in. “So, I’ve been doing a lot of research and it seems like it is easy to become an adopter.” She spoke.

“Hello to you too.” Maverick chuckled.

“So first you need to make a choice of which agency you want to adopt from. Get in contact with them and have them do a home study, give them what you're looking for in a child, once you find the right one let the agency know, and then you have to wait to hear back that you’ve been selected. Then you’re going to meet the child and then they’ll be placed in your care.” Penny said and all of this overwhelmed Maverick but he was ready, he wanted this. 

“I’m ready for this.” Maverick said and Penny smiled.

“I know you are.” She spoke

Over the next few days, he researched the agencies and found the one he liked. He got into contact with them and they set up a time to come out and look at the house. The day came and a nice woman came to the door. “Hi! I’m Bailey! I’m from the adoption agency.” Bailey said.

“Hi, welcome. Please come in.” He said with a smile.

“This is a nice place you have here.” She said and she smiled.

“Thank you.” He said 

“What is it that you do for a living?” She asked, looking around.

“I’m a Captain in the Navy. Naval aviator.” He said and she nodded and took note.

“When you’re deployed are you going to have someone looking after the child?” She asked and he nodded.

“Yes, Penny Benjamin. She’s a longtime friend of mine.” He said and she nodded her head and made note of that. 

“Do you mind showing me around?” She asked and he smiled and nodded.

“Of course.” He said and started to give her the tour. The house was spotless and the backyard was huge and fenced in. Once that was over, they came back into the kitchen.

“I’m gonna say this is a very nice place you got here Mr. Mitchell.” She said

“Please call me Maverick.” He said “Mr. Mitchell was my father.” He added and she smiled.

“Very well Maverick.” She said “We have a meet and greet coming up in the park tomorrow. Come out and meet the children you may find the perfect one.” Said and he smiled.

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to be there.” He said and she smiled and then bid him a goodbye and she was on her way.

 The next day he got up and prepared to go to the meet and greet. The house still stayed absolutely spotless and then he was out the door. He decided to take his Jeep, figuring it would look better than a motorcycle. He pulled up and parked close to the front. He got out and headed to the tent to get out of the blistering heat for just a moment. Bailey had spotted him “Maverick! Hi! I’m so glad you could make it.” She said and he smiled.

“I really want to find a kid. I’ve been wanting this for a while.” He said and she smiled.

“I love to hear that. Start mingling and you might just connect with someone.” She said and he smiled and she was off. He stood there for a minute and decided to walk around. He played with kids but none of them connected with him. He was about to give up hope when he spotted a little girl, you, sitting alone and he felt saddened he walked over to you and sat down. You looked up and smiled but went back to what you were doing. 

“What is your name?” He asked softly and that shocked you.

“Y/N.” You said quietly.

“Don’t you wanna go and play with the others?” He asked and you shook your head.

“They make fun of me.” You said 

“Why do they do that?” He asked, you shrugged.

“I don’t fit in.” You said quietly. He knew that feeling. 

“What do you got there?” He asked clearly seeing the item.

“Y/F/B (your favorite book).” You said and smiled.

“That one is my favorite.” He said and you looked up at him wide eyed.

“Really?” You asked and he nodded.

“Y/N come on it's time to go.” Bailey said and he notice you frown but nod and he felt that connection

“Bailey.” Maverick said getting up and Bailey stopped and turned to him making sure she got to another person safely.

“Yes, Maverick?” She asked

“What’s Y/N’s story?” He asked 

“It’s a sad one. Her dad was a Naval Aviator and her mom a Navy SEAL both killed in action. She came to us shortly after. She’s been to foster home to foster home but nothing has stuck.” Bailey said and Maverick knew you were the one for him. “She’s been shy and skittish ever since.” She added.

“I wanna adopt her.” Maverick said watching you shy away from the caretaker.

“Really?” She asked excitedly and Maverick nodded “That is great news! I can’t wait to get the paperwork started and tell her.” She said “I’ll be in touch.” She said and he nodded and then she was off. Maverick watched her tell you the news and you looked back at him and he smiled. He was gonna finally have a child.

Over the next few days Maverick was in contact with the agency and was changing information with them. He was anxious but excited. He wanted to tell the team but knew it was too early and jinx himself. The only person that knew was Penny and that was because she had been a contact person for the agency.

It was a couple of weeks later that he heard from them and said that the process was a success and that he had been selected to adopt you. He was stunned that he was left speechless and that was very unlike the man. He had already met and visited you at the park and he absolutely fell in love with you. There was no way he was going to back down from this now. 

Today was the day. You were finally going to live with him. He was finally going to have a kid. You had arrived in front of a nice-looking house and it had an American Flag flying on a flagpole in the front yard and you smiled. Bailey pulled up next to a motorcycle and a Jeep and you grew curious. She got out and then you got out. She was talking to you but it was the same speech that you’ve heard a thousand times and have grown bored and used to it. You both walked up to the front door and she rang the doorbell and in an instant the man known as Maverick opened the door and he smiled “Y/N!” He said excitedly “I’m so glad you’re here. Bailey, thank you for bringing her.” He added and she smiled at you yet to say a word.

“I’m so glad to be here.” Bailey said and he moved aside.

“Please come in.” He said and so you did the house smelt like chocolate and sugar cookies, a scent that you had grown up with until the tragic accident landing you in foster care. You explored the kitchen, staying put not wanting to wonder off as Maverick and Bailey talked. Soon Bailey was leaving after giving you the ‘behave and if you need anything call’ speech. Now it was just you and Maverick alone. “Is there anything you want to do?” Maverick asked and you just shook your head. “Do you wanna go and see your room?” He asked and you nodded. He went over to try and pick you up and you flinched away and of course that broke his heart but he understood it. Maverick led the way to your room which was just two doors down from his. He showed you where the bathroom and everything was. “Do you want to help me unpack your clothing?” He asked and you nodded and he smiled. He set your suitcase on the bed and unzipped it and began to put things away. He asked you if you wanted anything in a specific order but you just shrugged. 

You being distant from Maverick went on for a full 2 weeks. He wanted to introduce you to everyone but he was wanting you to get to know him and him to know you first. Normally this would frustrate other people but he knew to be patient and you would come around when you felt like it was the right time. He didn’t want to rush anything so he took it day by day and you really appreciated that. 

Everything changed one night and that event caused you to open up to him full heartedly. 

It was summer so that meant that you didn’t have to go school and the Cyclone had given Maverick some time off. Maverick had just woken up and was getting ready for the day and he kept thinking about what he was going to do with you. He thought about taking you to the beach or the park or just staying in. When he was done, he went and checked on you to find you awake and sitting up in bed looking at him. “Hey there, Sweetheart.” He said as he walked in. You just stared at him, your eyes showing the unsureness. “Wanna do anything today?” He asked and you just shrugged your shoulders. “Wanna go to the beach?” He asked and your eyes lit up and he smiled. “Can I help you with anything?” He asked and you shook your head and he smiled and nodded. “Ok. I’ll be close if you do need anything.” He said.

“Ok.” You said quietly and he smiled. He was overjoyed on the inside but he didn’t show it on the outside. He walked away and cracked the door. He stayed nearby and grabbed some stuff out of the closet and grabbed the sunscreen out of the bathroom when you walked out. 

“Want me to help you brush your teeth and do your hair?” He asked and you once again lit up.

“Please.” You said and he smiled. He helped you do both of those things and then he was packing a bag for both of you and then he walked into the kitchen and you followed. You watched him make food and drinks and put them in a cooler. When he was done, he smiled.

“Ready to go?” He asked and you nodded and so he helped you in the car and in your car, seat making little to no contact. Once that was done, he got into the driver’s side and you both were headed to the beach.

You guys arrived at the beach and thankfully it was empty. Maverick was quick to park and got out and helped you. He then grabbed the bag, towels, and cooler. You both walked onto the beach and he found a perfect spot. You watched as he set up and then he set down and you went off, but not very far away, and played. He watched you and you smiled and he loved that smile. He found that you don't like being touched much unless it was absolutely necessary. You had started to get hungry so you hesitantly walked up to him and he smiled up at you. “Hungry.” You said in a quiet voice and he smiled and pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for you and some goldfish. You took them and scurried off out of reach but on the towel and under the umbrella that he had also carried down. As you were eating he started to get your drink out and hand it to you. You finished your food and drink and then you played a little bit more in the sand not daring to go into the water. Soon it was time to go home.

When you got home you and he changed into something more comfortable. You had spent a total of three hours out there and no matter how much sunscreen was put on you, you still got a little sun on your face. Maverick got started on dinner while you played in the living room in eyesight. You played mostly by yourself not wanting any help and not expecting any help. You were playing with something when it broke and instead of crying or asking for help you just put it to the side and that made Maverick frown. He walked over and sat on the couch “Can I help you fix it?” He asked you and you looked at him and didn't say anything but your eyes showed an internal battle. He slowly nodded your head.

“Please.” You said quietly and he smiled and took the toy and you watched him fix it. You watched amazed and he smiled. He fixed It and held it out to you which you hesitantly took it back. “Thank you.” You said quietly and he smiled.

“You're very much welcome.” He said and then you were back to playing quietly and he watched for a few minutes until the oven went off. He got the food out of the oven and then he was plating it for dinner, he cut yours up to get it to cool down quicker.

“Y/N/N supper is ready.” He said and he watched you put down your toys and walk to the dinner table. You got up in the chair and picked up a fork “Careful it's hot.” He said and you nodded. Once it was cooled off supper was quickly eaten and then he was helping giving you a bath watching incase you needed help. After a bath you brushed your teeth and headed off to bed. “Goodnight, Sweetheart. I love you.” He said not really expecting a response. He cracked your door and you were out like a light. He sighed as he went back and started to tidy up and get ready for bed. Once ready he laid down and fell asleep.

“DADDY!” You screamed out, wrenching the sleep from Maverick and making him jerk up right. He quickly sat up and looked around thinking that he misheard. “DADDY!” You yelled again and that had him jumping out of bed and racing over to your room. You had been sitting up tears racing down your face which had him racing over to you.

“Sweetheart, what's wrong?” He asked, wanting to touch you but didn't know if you wanted it. You began sobbing and he hesitantly gathered you in his arms and he was shocked when you curled into him.

“Bad dream.” You sobbed into his chest clinging to his shirt. His heart broke. 

“Shhhh, it's ok. I've got you.” He said running a hand over your head. “Wanna talk about it?” He asked and you stayed silent.

“You left me like momma and daddy did.” You said into his chest and his heart broke.

“I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever.” He told you and from that point on you knew you could trust him and open up.

A week after that nightmare you were like any normal 4-year-old. You opened up to him a lot more. Since that night you hadn't called Maverick dad but he wasn't gonna rush you into it. Since you were a lot more comfortable around him, he decided to introduce you to new people. 

-----------

At first it was Penny and you absolutely adored her and saw her many times. When you were first introduced to her you were hesitant and she understood that. Maverick had been keeping her updated on everything and she knew you were shy and knew not to push. He had been wanting to introduce you to her The Daggers for some time but wanted you to get settled first. 

Both you and Maverick were sitting at the table eating lunch. “I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. She’s really nice and has a kid of her own. You'll really like her.” He said looking at you gauging your reaction and at first you looked hesitant but then you smiled.

“Ok.” You said looking at him and he smiled.

“We can have her over for dinner if you want or we can go and meet her.” He said giving you an option and you pulled a face that you've seen him pull when he was thinking.

“Dinner.” You said taking a bite of food while nodding and he smiled.

“Dinner it is.” He chuckled as you returned your attention back to your food, he quickly sent a text to her and she quickly replied saying she would love to. For the rest of the day, he played games and got dinner ready with your help and you followed him around everywhere. “What do you want for dinner? We can have burgers or pizza.” He asked.

“Burgers!” You said excitedly and he chuckled. The both of you got dinner ready to be cooked and then it was time for Penny to come over.  She knocked on the door and Maverick went and opened it with you right behind him. 

“Hey!” He said when he opened and saw Penny “Come on in.” He added and you hid behind his leg. 

“Hey, Maverick and Y/N.” She said you grew curious as to how she knew your name and came out but stayed glued to Maverick she waved at you. You shyly waved at her. 

“Hi.” You said shyly and she smiled.

“I'm Penny. I love your hair.” She said talking about hair style and you smiled.

“Daddy did it!” You said excitedly and you came out of hiding. Maverick froze with wide eyes but smiling, that was the first time since the nightmare you called him that and you did it without hesitation. Penny smiled at him, you hadn't seen his face because of your excitement.

From that point on she was your new best friend. You excitedly told her about stuff and bounced around like any normal 4-year-old would. Maverick smiled and watched you. 

-----------

Then he introduced you to Bradley a week later and you two just seemed to click right away. Bradley had needed to ask Maverick something and asked him if he could come over and he said yes and that he wanted him to meet someone. Bradley was curious about who it was, Did he have finally have a girlfriend? was running through his head as he drove to Maverick’s house and pulled into his driveway. Maverick had told you that you were going to meet someone close to him and you just nodded unsure. He knew you would be like this while meeting everyone and he understood. 

Bradley walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. You both had been on the couch and you looked up at him and he smiled. He got up and so did you. After the nightmare you had stuck to him like a shadow. Maverick answered the door and Bradley smiled. “Hey, Mav.” Bradley said.

“Hey.” He said and hugged him and when they released, he looked down at you and knelt down. “Y/N this Bradley. You've heard me talk about him.” He said and you nodded and looked at him and he looked familiar. You studied him and then took off somewhere and Bradley raised an eyebrow and stood up and Maverick shrugged and let him in and then shut the door. After a few minutes you came back with a picture in your hands. You looked at it and then back at Bradley and then your face lit up. 

“You look like Uncle Goose!” You exclaimed and that made them both smile and Bradley looked at Maverick with tears in and shock ok his face.

“You told her about Dad?” He asked and Maverick nodded.

“Of course. She loves hearing stories about our adventures, don't ya?” He asked, looking at you and you nodded enthusiastically. “This is his son.” He said your eyes widened. You ran up to Bradley and he bent down and you threw your arms around him and hugged him. After that introduction it was nonstop chatter. Bradley did finally ask Mav his question after you fell asleep and were put into the bed. 

Maverick walked Bradley to the door and he stopped and turned to his pseudo father “You have a good kid there.” He said and Maverick smiled and nodded.

“She was so shy at first and wouldn't let me touch unless I needed to or help her.” He said 

“What changed?” Bradley asked 

“She had a nightmare and I walked in and she was sitting up and crying. She clung to me and told me what happened and everything changed after that, she became a normal 4-year-old. She was calling out daddy too. She hadn't done it since until she met Penny and she said that she liked her hair and she just smiled and said that ‘Daddy did it.’” Maverick gushed and Bradley smiled, finally seeing him happy. 

“She's a sweet kid.” Bradley said and he nodded. “When are you gonna introduce her to the rest of The Daggers?” He asked.

“She seems more comfortable here. So, I was thinking of having a cookout next weekend.” Maverick said and Bradley nodded.

“That sounds like a good plan.” He said

They talked more until Bradley left. Maverick went and checked up on you one more time before going to bed himself.

-----------

Maverick wasn’t expecting to introduce you to Bob so early but it had just happened. Maverick and you had needed to run to the grocery store one day. He had gotten you out of your car seat and you immediately asked to be picked up and he quickly picked you up. He carried you into the grocery store and got a cart and put you in the basket. As you were shopping around and he was getting you stuff, him stuff, and food he spotted someone familiar. As he got closer, he saw that it was Bob. “Hey, Bob.” Maverick said and he turned around.

“Hey, Maverick.” He said smiling and looked at you.

“Who is this little one?” He asked 

“This is my daughter, Y/N.” He said and Bob smiled.

“Hi, Y/N.” He said and you waved shyly and he chuckled, you reminded him a lot of himself.

“I adopted her.” He said and he smiled.

“That is really awesome. She actually looks like you.” He said and Maverick smiled.

“I guess she does. I haven’t really paid attention to it. I’m just happy to have her in my life.” Maverick said

“I like your glasses.” You said randomly and that had both men smiling.

“Thank you.” He said and you smiled and looked down while playing with the strap. 

“Do you have a favorite animal?” You suddenly asked.

“I do!” He said just as excitedly. Maverick stood back and watched the interaction, happy that you were comfortable around him.

“What is it?” You asked 

“It's a wolf.” Bob said smiling as your eyes went wide and you looked at Maverick then back to him.

“So is mine!” You squealed excitedly. 

The two men talked more and then you departed from him and continued shopping.

“I like him.” You said looking up at Maverick and he smiled.

“I like him too.” Maverick said 

He had a feeling you and Bob were going to be great friends. You two were so similar in many ways.

-----------

The next weekend rolled around. Maverick was ordered to come back to work so he had you stay with Penny. He had gone to the store before coming to pick you up. When he got there the both of you were outside playing in the yard. You looked up when you heard the familiar sound of the Jeep and looked up and smiled as he got out “Daddy!” You yelled and ran to him and he bent down and ran into his arms.

“Hey, Sweetheart. Did you have a good day?” He asked and you nodded.

“We played outside.” You said as you released him and tugged him over to Penny to see what you were doing and you proudly showed off what you had been doing.

“That's so good!” He exclaimed excitedly and you looked up at him with wide eyes filled with adoration.

“Really?” You asked and he nodded and Penny chuckled as she came back out with your stuff. 

“Yes really. You draw better than I do.” He said and tickled you and you giggled and then you went back to doing what you were doing. “How was she?” He asked Penny and she smiled.

“So fun. Not that shy little girl you told me about the first time.” She said and he smiled.

“We're having a cookout this weekend to let her get to know the rest of The Daggers. You should come.” He said “Bring Ameila too.” He added and she smiled.

“We'll be there. What time?” She asked

“Around noon. Probably won't eat until 2 or later.” He said and she nodded.

“She had a nap around 2 today.” She said and he smiled and nodded and then he turned to you. 

“Ready to go?” He asked and you nodded and got up and hugged Penny and said bye to her and then skipped off to the Jeep. Penny said bye to Maverick and walked to the Jeep. He helped you in and then you were heading home. You excitedly told him about your day and smiled and listened and replied when he needed to. Soon you were home he helped you out and you walked with him into the house as he put your bag down. He started to get dinner ready and you pulled over a chair and watched him and helped him out when you could and when he would let you. After it was all done and cooked you both sat down to eat. After supper he had you go change and then you both settled down to watch a movie it was 8:00 PM and you started to settle down. 30 minutes into the movie and you were out. He smiled and picked you and carried you to your room, he tucked you in and kissed your forehead “Goodnight, Sweetheart. I love you.” He said.

“Love you too, Daddy.” You mumbled and rolled over and that brought tears to his eyes. He got ready for bed after cleaning up and tidying up and he fell asleep crying happy tears.

The next day arrived and you were up bright and early for no real reason. You had gotten out of bed and wandered into Maverick’s room and climbed up in his bed. He had heard you and felt the bed dip. “What are you doing, Sweetheart?” He asked which made you squeal.

“Up, Daddy. Up.” You said and started pushing him. He opened his eyes and looked at the clock and they bugged out of his head it was 6 AM. 

“It's too early to be up. You need to sleep a little bit longer.” He said and you shook your head. “Wanna sleep with me?” He asked your eyes lit up and nodded and he chuckled and pulled back the covers “Alright get in.” He said and you quickly got into and snuggled into his chest, the warmth surrounded you and you were fast to sleep. Once he knew you were asleep, he fell back to sleep smiling. When it was the proper time to wake up you did and you smiled at him. You both got up and he got both and himself changed and ready for the day. “You're gonna meet 5 new people. If you feel overwhelmed that's ok, I'll be here with you and so will Bradley and Penny. Ok?” He asked as he looked at you and fed you breakfast and you nodded and smiled.

“Ok.” You said and turned back to your food. When breakfast was over, he started to clean up and you had skipped off somewhere to play but you were still in eyesight. If only Carole and Goose could see him now with a kid they would be smiling. He played some with you and then he did some house cleaning, it wouldn't be the first time that The Daggers were over. He looked around and looked at how everything had changed from it looking like a single person living there to looking like a father and daughter living there, toys were scattered around inside and outside and art from you hung on the fridge. He was so focused on taking the very welcoming sight that he didn't see you fall on the concrete outside, the only thing that snapped him out of it was you crying. He looked over and panicked seeing you on the ground crying he was quick to get over to you. He was quick to pick you up and you buried your face into his neck as you sobbed and through your tiny arms around his neck. 

“Shhhh you're ok. It's gonna be ok.” He said trying to soothe you by rubbing your back. He kept soothing you until your tears turned to hiccups. “Let me see.” He said and you reluctantly undid your face and he saw tear tracks down your cheeks and his heart broke. You undid your arms and showed him your hands. You were still sniffling “It's ok. We can easily take care of this. Let's go and clean it.” He said and you nodded and he headed inside and set you on the counter. He had you lean over and wash your hands with soap and water and the dried them “Almost done.” He said and then he took them and kissed them “Now all better?” He asked and you nodded he smiled and started to put you down but you clung to him. “Want me to hold for a little bit?” He asked and you nodded still clearly upset and he smiled “Ok. I will.” He said as he held you and did more stuff around the house. It was 11:50 AM when you finally asked to be put down and he did so. You walked off and started to play around with toys around making sure to not make it too messy.

12 PM arrived first it was Penny and Amelia. “Hey guys!” Penny said and they both smiled when you ran over to her and wanted her to pick you up.

“Penny!” She yelled and hugged her and then you saw Amelia.

“Y/N this is my daughter Amelia.” Penny said and Amelia waved at you and you waved back and asked to be put down. Penny put you down as Amelia got down on your level. 

“Hi, do you like princesses?” She asked and your eyes lit up and you nodded and she smiled “Can I tell you a secret?” She asked and you nodded and she leaned to your ear “I do too.” She said and you squealed and grabbed her hand and led her to your room. Maverick smiled at the interaction.

“She’s such a sweet little girl.” Penny said and he nodded.

“That she is.” Maverick said as they walked further into the house. Soon after they had arrived Bradley and Jake arrived and Maverick let them in. 

“Hey, Mav.” Bradley said at the same time as Jake said “Hey, Pops.” Jake said and hugged him as well. As soon as you heard Bradley’s voice you came flying out of the room.

“Bradley!” You yelled and his reflexes kicked and caught you when you leaped for him.

“Hey, Y/N/N.” Bradley said and hugged him. “Y/N this is Jake.” He introduced Jake and he smiled.

“Hi.” He said and waved and you waved back at him shyly. She was just unsure about him. 

“It’s ok. He saved your dad and I.” Bradley said and then you smiled and became yourself again. You wiggled and he put you down and you skipped off to Penny.

“When did you get a kid?” He asked 

“I adopted her a few weeks ago.” Maverick said “She lost both of her parts to the Navy.” He said and everything clicked for the boys. While they were standing there a knock was heard and he opened it. It was Mickey, Javy, and Ruben. They all greeted each other and walked further into the house.

“Daddy!” You screeched “Save me!” You giggled as Ameila came chasing you and he picked you up.

“Dang, you got to base.” Amelia giggled and then said hi to the boys.

“Y/N, this is Mickey.” He said

“As in Mickey Mouse?” You asked wide eyed and Mickey chuckled but nodded and screeched.

“This is Javy and Ruben.” He finished and you waved at them excitedly, you were doing so much better than what he anticipated. Just then the doorbell rang. “Do you want to go with me to get that?” Maverick asked you nodded and he walked off with you.

“He’s such a good dad.” Javy said 

“He really is.” Mickey replied

“She’s so adorable.” Ruben said and everyone agreed with that.

Maverick opened the door and revealed to Natasha “Hey, Nat. This is Y/N. Y/N this is Natasha.” Maverick and she waved.

“You’re pretty.” You said and she smiled.

“So are you.” She replied back and you blushed and hid your face. “She’s adorable, Mav.” She said and he smiled.

“Yeah, she is.” He said and he let her in and then set you down when you wanted to be down and then scampered off while rounding the guys up and roping them into playing some type of game.

“Bob is on his way; he has to stop and do something.” Nat already said knowing his question. 

“Nat!” You yelled and she looked over at you and you waved her over.

“Looks like I’m being summoned.” She chuckled and left, leaving Maverick to watch his little girl run and be active while wrapping grownups and a teenager around your finger. Penny was on the side setting food and drinks when the doorbell rang and he went to open it. 

“Hey, Bob.” He said and Bob smiled.

“Sorry I was late. I wanted to get something for her.” Bob said 

“You didn’t have to do that.” Maverick said 

“I wanted to.” Bob said and Maverick sighed there was no winning here. You looked up and saw Bob.

“Bob!” You screeched and ran to him giving everyone enough time to break since you were distracted. They loved playing with you but they needed a break. They didn’t have the same energy as you, well maybe Ameila did but that’s different.

“Hi, Y/N.” He said and bent down and hugged you “I got something for you.” He said and your eyes widened.

“You do?” You asked and he nodded and brought his hand from behind his back. It was a stuffed wolf “I do.” He said giving it to you and you had the brightest smile on your face and then wrapped your arms around his neck.

“Thank you so much!” You said and then scampered off to the rest of the group to show off your pretty wolf as Bob got up.

“You really didn't have to do that but I appreciate it.” Maverick said and Bob smiled.

“Really it was nothing. I saw earlier and had to get her it.” He said and Maverick smiled as they walked to join the rest. The incident that happened before everyone got there was long forgotten. 

The cookout was really fun and you were getting tons of energy out while you carried the wolf around. “Daddy, can you hold Simba?” You asked and he smiled.

“Of course.” He said and took it gently and sat on his lap. Of course, you would name the wolf Simba since that was your favorite movie for the time being and who knows it might change. 

“Thank you.” You said and scampered off to where Bradley and Jake were waiting for you to play. You continued to play as supper was being made and every now and then you would come and get a drink and then were right back at it. Around 5 PM food was ready.

“Supper is ready!” Maverick hollered out. “Y/N!” He yelled out and you looked up and he waved you in and you scampered over to him with everyone trailing behind. He had already gotten you a plate and had you sit down and eat while everyone else got food and sat where they wanted. As the food disappeared and everyone lazed around you started to rub your eyes and yawn. Maverick had been talking to Bradley, Jake, and Javy when you came up to him. 

“I think someone is tired.” Jake said and pointed at you as you walked over to Maverick arms up, hand holding Simba. He smiled and picked you up, you snuggled into him and laid your head on his shoulder. You wrapped your arms around his neck tightly as you clung to Simba and you were out like a light.

“I think you all wore her out.” Maverick chuckled

“More like she wore us out.” Bradley chuckled and everyone agreed. 

“She's a wonderful kid.” Jake said 

“She's lucky to have you.” Javy added and Maverick smiled.

“Thank you, guys. She's been a major help since the mission. She keeps my mind occupied.” Maverick said and they smiled. 

Soon people began to filter out around 9 PM, of course you were tired. They said their goodbyes and comments about you and that just made Maverick smile. He was so glad they approved of you and took you in like you were family. Penny and Amelia were next to last to leave after Maverick insisted that they didn't need to stick around and help besides Bradley said he would and wasn't going to take no for an answer. “I'll start cleaning up while you go and put her down.” Bradley and Maverick nodded as he headed upstairs to your room. When he got there, he pushed the door open and walked in laying you down and quickly getting you changed. He tucked you into bed and you woke up a little bit.

“Daddy?” You asked sleepily.

“Shhhh, it's ok. go Back to sleep.” He said and you nodded and snuggled Simba and he smiled. He leaned down and kissed your forehead and let up “Goodnight, I love you, Sweetheart.” He said and stood up.

“Goodnight, Daddy. I love you.” You said and that brought tears into his eyes as he smiled and cracked your door. He walked back downstairs Bradley looked up and grew a little concerned. 

“Are you ok? Is Y/N, ok?” He asked and Maverick smiled and nodded as tears fell.

“I'm ok. She's ok. We’re both ok.” Maverick said Bradley nodded and continued to clean while Maverick helped. Maverick was finally happy and that empty spot in his heart was finally filled. Everything was perfect. As they cleaned, he kept smiling and thinking to himself how lucky he was to have you. When Bradley finally left it was around 11 PM. He locked the door and the back door and closed the curtains. As he exited each room, he turned lights off and walked upstairs and checked in on you one more time and smiled when you had turned and was snuggling Simba. He then left for his room, got ready for bed and climbed in. He fell asleep quickly knowing you were safe. 

Goose and Carole were looking down on him and smiled. “He's happy. He's finally happy.” Carole said.

“He just needed someone and he found that person.” Goose said 

“She looks so happy with him.” Your mother, Samantha Dakota, said with tears in her eyes.

“She's grown so much. She has warmed up to him quicker than I thought.” Your father, Blake Dakota, said hugging his crying wife. 

“You must be her parents.” Carole said, looking at them and they nodded.

“You have such a wonderful girl.” Goose said “So polite.” He said and they smiled. 

“I hate that we left her so soon.” Blake said and Goose smiled.

“I get it. I left Bradley when he was 2.” Goose said and they looked at him “Maverick, the man that adopted your daughter, was my pilot. We got stuck in jet wash and went into a flat spin and I ejected and hit my head.” He said and their hearts broke and Caroles's heart all over again. “He blamed himself and I think having Y/N in his life has finally let him get past that.” He said and they nodded as they watched you sleep.

“We were both on a mission and I was Naval Aviator and got shot down and couldn't eject.” Blake said 

“I got shot trying to save a little girl.” Samantha said

“Oh, you poor things.” Carole said and put a hand over her heart.

“Is she going to be, ok?” Samantha asked and Carole nodded.

“She's gonna be perfect. Maverick is a good person. He may have been wild in his younger years but he has settled down. She'll never forget you both.” Carole said smiling and they smiled.

“I'm just glad she's calling him dad.” Blake said

“You'll always be her dad and she knows that. She's not replacing you.” Goose said, reassuring him. That put them at ease. They continued to watch over you both. You were in good hands and that's all they cared about. 

You and Maverick were finally happy.

Tag list:

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@nyx2021

@grandstrangerphantom

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[somefanficrecomendations]

January Monthly Roundup

BATFAMILY

Three’s a Crowd (But I’m Here if You Are) by JUBE514 (Bernard Dowd/Tim Drake/Conner Kent) 20k, Identity Reveal, Fluff      Bernard pops the top off his water bottle, a roll of his wrist at the perfect angle and it comes right off, and pops the faucet in Tim’s very nice kitchen to cold. Tim presses a kiss to the back of Bernard’s neck before Tim moves to the fridge to get his own water.      Bernard used to not drink as much water, but Tim drinks enough water for three people a day so Bernard naturally has followed- and now Bernard has no acne so he’s sort of mad about it actually. “The main character has two hands.” Bernard chimes easy and teasing. “Polygamy is the awnser here babe.”      Tim peaks over the door of the fridge. “Oh? Is this you telling me something?” —      Tim Drake, Bernard Dowd, and Kon-El have two hands each. They use them to hold onto each other.

My Evil Twin From Another Universe by FabulaRasa (Hal Jordan/Bruce Wayne) 22k An interdimensional anomaly strands another version of Hal in this universe, and two Hal Jordans in one universe is several Hal Jordans too many.

this week in heroblr by UnidentifiedFroggy (multi) 22k, WIP, Social Media, okay im sorry y'all did SUPERBOY just say he's a tumblrina??? #SUPERBOY AS IN KON EL AS IN SUPERMANS CLONE #DIED IN THE CRISIS SUPERBOY #holy shit #superblr #heroblr - a viewpoint into tumblr as it might exist within my own exceedingly self-indulgent form of the dc universe, told through epistolary fashion in batfamily social media fic tradition. features heroes getting cancelled, takes of middling veracity, plenty of queerness both on heroblr and in the hero community, my self-indulgent ships, and something vaguely resembling plot and lore told obliquely through tumblr drama and outsider pov interpretations of superheroes

The Big Boss by Crowlows19 (gen) 4k, POV Outsider The story of Bruce Wayne and his family as told by his insane Wayne Enterprises calendar and the poor assistant that had to manage it all.

Batman for Dummies by Havendance (gen) 38k, No Man’s Land, Helena Bertinelli-centric In the aftermath of the quake that shook Gotham, Helena Bertinelli takes on the mantle of the Bat. (It isn’t like Batman’s using it.) If she’d known the cowl came with a certain moralizing little bird following her around — well, she probably still would’ve done it, but it would’ve been nice to know in advance. (Or: Tim and Helena team up 2: electric boogaloo. Now with more bats!)

Older Sibling Duty by Icestorm238 (gen) 2k, Batfam Names are important. The Bats tend to bypass their real names, however, in favour of increasingly dumb nicknames. The older sibling trio of Dick, Jason, and Cass are the primary instigators of this. After all, it is their duty.

AITAH For Tricking My Brother Into Drugging My Other Brother? by TaxiCabToSlowtown (gen) 1k, Social Media, Am I the Asshole? Okay, look, I know how that sounds, but hear me out. My (M, 19, "Fred") little brother (17, I’ll call him “Percy”) has problems. These problems stem a lot from the fact that his parents abandoned him for long periods of time as a kid and he didn’t have a proper upbringing. I should mention that Percy’s parents then are not the same as our parent(s) now. We’re both adopted, and I’m messed up too, I’ll admit it. Our Father (45, I’ll call him “Arthur”) had sort of turned his house into a home for kids with really traumatic families.

Welcome to the Family by ViiA01 (Hal Jordan/Bruce Wayne) 67k, WIP, Batfam Bruce’s children want to meet the man that their father deemed worthy of a smile. So they do, in the only way they know how. By breaking into people's houses and lurking in dark places. Bruce just wants his children to stop stalking Earth’s Green Lantern, if only because they're ruining his plans. And Hal? Well, Hal is convinced that Bruce has concocted a plot to get around his ‘no killing’ rule, by having his children stalk him until his heart gives out from the stress.

A Series of Unfortunately Timed Coming Out's by Queerbutstillhere (multi), 7k, Coming Out The batfamily had this gift.  This wonderful skill. They are such talented, brilliant, capable individuals. But they are absolutely horrendous at wisely timing coming out to their family members. These are their stories . Aka: "I love you all but could we stop coming out to each other during the middle of battles?"

Call to a Lonely Earth by Drag0nst0rm (gen), 7k, Angst, AU-17776 Fusion There are no children left in Gotham. Not until the multiverse spits one out right in front of Batman, at least.

buy the ticket, take the ride by Anonymous (gen), 13k, Vegas Tim had always figured that if he ever woke up in Vegas sans-memory, it would be when he was older than fourteen. But there were some things he couldn’t control, and apparently whatever had happened last night that he didn’t remember was one of them.

CROSSOVER

Keystone by Kalinjdra (gen), 26k, WIP, HPxDC Harry Potter double-checked his lists before sending off the letter to an unknown cousin. He hoped for maybe some money at least, he didn't expect to get a scary bodyguard brother instead. Jason Todd has never stopped searching for his real parents so when Tim offers solid information in exchange of taking care of some kid, he really doesn't have anything else to do but take it. No one really could have foretold what followed.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

*oliver twist voice* Please Cal, may I have some more sentences

🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟 🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞

Giving you all the porridge (or whatever it was) that you ever ask for.

69 for 🧟:

---

Bobby nods. “I know this is difficult. But we’ll get through it. Like everything else.”

Hen takes a deep breath. Karen squeezes her hand. 

“We will,” Hen agrees. 

“And what about the radio?” Athena asks. “It’d be nice for two more sets of hands and their firearms to come back.”

Maddie nods. “It’s transmitting. Christopher thinks he got the message right.”

“Good,” Athena says. “Then we’re doing everything we can.”

“Not quite everything,” Bobby says. 

Everyone looks at him. 

“I’ve been saying I wanted to build a fence around this place for months,” Bobby says. “Time to bump up that priority level.”

▪️▪️▪️

It’s been a long day. Athena is exhausted. She would like to spend time with her kids. And yet, for whatever reason, as they afternoon creeps towards evening, she finds herself outside the library with Bobby, planning a damn fence. 

Well, it’s not a damn fence. It’s a smart fence, in all reality. Athena knows it’s a good call. Even a few seconds of delay in an intrusion could save them, if it comes to it. Though, this will be no quick project. Their would-be assailants, if they exist and are coming, will be quicker. 

“Don’t you think this will take too long?” Athena asks, walking Bobby form lines with ribbon tape. 

“For this problem,” he agrees.

“This problem?” Athena echoes.

He nods. 

“If this is true…” He says while he works. “If zombies are on the way out, and there is a power vacuum, then this won’t be the only threat this group faces.”

“Mmm,” Athena hums thoughtfully. “And you don’t think there’s actual hope out there to restore real order and justice?”

“I don’t know,” Bobby says. “Did we actually have that to begin with, or were we just comfy?”

Athena bristles a little. She had always thought the former. She had to, in her line of work. But she knows well enough that it’s not always the truth. It’s like two sensibilities are warring in her head, at this thought.

“Sounds a little nihilistic,” she observes.

“No,” Bobby shakes his head. “I didn’t say that.”

“Then what?” Athena asks.

Bobby sighs, stopping his work to look up at her. “Look, would I love it if, with a snap of my fingers, society was restored? Sure. There are things we’re all missing.”

“But?” Athena prompts.

“But…” His mouth twists a little. “But my priorities are the same as they were beforehand. With or without society.”

“And what are those?” She asks. She really does want to know. 

“Keep this family alive,” Bobby says. “And do whatever good I can manage in the process.”

---

69 for 🪞:

---

“Buck,” Eddie says, slowing him down. “We’re going to be fine. I won’t give her milk.”

Buck inhales. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Good luck,” Eddie smiles at him. “It’s gonna go great.”

▪️▪️▪️

The meeting does go well, much to Buck’s relief. His adoption lawyer - a friendly woman named Tanya Maddox that Hen and Karen recommended - is hopeful about his case. 

“Some judges are apprehensive about single-father households,” she advises him. “But we’re going to make sure you have the character witnesses you need if it comes to that. I wouldn’t worry.”

She says the whole process can take between six months to a year under normal circumstances. More reasons to be patient. But overall, it’s good. All good news. A year from now, she might legally be his daughter. A year from now, she might have a real name. Buck wants that for her. He wants that for him. He wants them to be a family, without conditions. It’s a little unnerving, how much he already wants it. 

He checks his phone several times while he’s out. Eddie hasn’t called or texted. So obviously things are fine. Of course they are. Why wouldn’t they be? Obviously Buck didn’t doubt that they would be. But he has this image in his head that he’ll come home and the minute he’s through the door, Eddie will bolt like a frightened rabbit, and it’ll be months until he sees him outside of work again. Call it selfish, but he just misses his best friend. He wants him back around. 

When he arrives home, though, it’s not to find any indication of Eddie even thinking about bolting. In fact, quite the opposite.

Buck walks through the front door to find three distinct things. One, the sound of laughter. Two - when he walks towards the kitchen - the sight of Eddie and Dove sitting at the table, playing cards. Three, the fact that the messy braids in Dove’s hair have been replaced with two, uniform french-style plaits that look almost expertly done. 

“Do you have any threes?” Eddie asks. 

“Go fish!” Dove smirks. 

“Oh, darn!” Eddie makes a faux-groan of complaint that makes Dove snicker like she’s hoodwinked him. He sounds happy, though. He looks happy.

“Hey, you two,” Buck says, walking towards them.

“Buck!” Dove beams. 

“Hey hey!” Eddie grins at him. “How’d it go?”

Something warm and fluttery spreads in Buck’s chest. Like, oh. What a very nice sight to come home to. 

“Really well,” Buck says. “Uh, did you get her hair done?”

“Eddie did it!” Dove announces proudly. 

It’s not lost on Buck how bright and confident she’s behaving right now. Not a hint of shyness. 

“Eddie did it?” Buck asks, looking at his friend. 

Eddie just shrugs. “I used to get Adriana ready for school in the morning. This is nothing.”

[teaberrii]

Chapter 6: Mom-in-Training

After ending a five-year relationship, you pour all your energy into work. Your latest assignment? Staying at a popular bed-and-breakfast to gather information. It should be a piece of cake... If only the owner isn't the man you scolded on the street.

Jing Yuan/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

“Mom!” March hugs the woman and looks at Luocha. “Luocha was bullying me.”

“Was I?” Luocha deadpans.

Just when March sticks her tongue out at him, the woman’s eyes land on you. Then, she walks over, and that’s when you see that her right eye looks somewhat cloudy. “I’ve never seen you around here.”

“We met her while in the city,” Luocha answers. “She has a bit of history with Jing Yuan.”

“Jing Yuan?” The woman looks back at you and smiles. “You don’t say.” She introduces herself as Jingliu, the same name you heard Blade mutter a few minutes ago. “Jing Yuan used to be a student of mine.” She looks at the others. “It’s through him I met these kids.”

“Kids?” Blade asks. “Don’t lump me in with them.”

Luocha coughs. “Don’t lump us in with March, you mean.”

“Rude!”

You chuckle just as Jingliu says, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Jing Yuan. Perhaps I should visit him.”

March holds up a small plastic bag. “We’re having a BBQ tonight! Why don’t you join us, Mom? I’m sure the Dan’s would be happy to see you!”

“The Dan’s?” Luocha asks, raising a brow. “Is that how we’re calling them now?”

“It’s a lot shorter than saying Dan Heng and Dan Feng all the time! It’s like a tongue twister.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Blade mutters.

March points at you. “You’re coming, too.”

“I don’t get a say?” you ask jokingly.

March puts her hands to her temples. “My sixth sense is telling me that Jing Yuan will be there. Don’t tell me you wanna miss out.”

“Well, we can’t have a BBQ without drinks,” Jingliu says. She looks at you. “Why don’t we grab some on the way back?”

Luocha nudges March. “Looks like your mom is adopting a new child.”

March crosses her arms and looks at him. “What? Jealous?”

Blade softly sighs and mutters, “I’m surrounded by idiots.”

You let Jingliu lead the way to a liquor store not far from where you part ways with March, Blade, and Luocha. While Blade looks like he wants to tag along, March drags him and Luocha along to get some other supplies. Before you left, you heard something about “firecrackers”, “smores", and "water guns."

“Why does March call you Mom?”

Jingliu laughs. “That’s a long story.”

Jingliu looked from Jing Yuan to the young woman dressed in shorts and a pink tank. “...So, you want to learn Wushu?”

March rolled one of her shoulders. “You bet I do!”

“Well, you have enthusiasm, I’ll give you that.”

March frowned. “What’s with the attitude?” She looked at Jing Yuan. “You didn’t lie to me, did you? You promised you’d introduce me to your coach.”

Jing Yuan, who had a hand in his pocket, nodded toward Jingliu. “And you’re looking at her.”

“How do you two even know each other?” Jingliu asked.

“Long story,” Jing Yuan deadpaned.

“But, it’s all behind us now!” March said. Then, she took a breath. “A healthy mind starts with a healthy body!”

Jingliu, still looking at Jing Yuan asked, “...I feel like I’m missing something.”

“A fresh start. That’s what she’s looking for.”

“Jing Yuan used to be my student,” Jingliu continues. “I taught him Wushu when he was in elementary, and he stuck with it until he left for college in the city. March started calling me Mom when she became a regular at my dojo. Not to toot my own horn, but she says she’ll stop calling me that when she beats me in a spar.” A small chuckle. “That hasn’t happened yet.”

“How did you and Jing Yuan know about you, if I may ask? Was he just interested in Wushu and wanted to get a teacher?”

“I asked him the same question.”

“Hey, Jingliu!” Jingliu, who was catching her breath on the bench after a good spar with an equal, watched a man walk up to her. “Someone’s here to see you.”

“Who?”

The man shrugged. “A kid.”

“...A kid?”

Jingliu stood and followed the man to the front of the dojo. There, she saw a young boy covered in bruises and scratches from head to toe. His knee was also bleeding, and his eyes were a little red. Had he been crying?

“...Can I help you?” she asked.

“Are you the strongest trainer here?" He walked up to her. “If you are, I want to train under you.”

It took Jingliu a moment to react. “Um, okay, wait. Who are you?” She looked around. “Where are your parents?”

He stuck out his hand. “...I’m Jing Yuan. Nice to meet you.”

Jingliu reluctantly took his hand, and his firm shake took her off guard.

Bruises? Scratches? You never expected to hear a story like that. Did Jing Yuan get bullied when he was younger?

“I can still remember the look in his eyes when he told me he wanted to learn Wushu,” Jingliu says. “In all my years of teaching, I’ve never met anyone quite like him.”

As soon as you and Jingliu enter the liquor store, the man at the counter looks up from the paper’s reading. “Oh, Liu Liu, what a pleasant surprise.”

“You’re never going to get rid of that nickname, aren’t you?”

He chuckles and puts the paper down. That’s when you get a good look at him. If Santa Claus is real, you’re sure this is what he’d look like. A beer belly and a scruffy white beard. He slightly pulls down his spectacles when he looks at you.

“Do we have a new lass in town?”

“She’s staying at Jing Yuan’s B&B."

“Oh, you don’t say! Well then, you’re in good hands, my dear. First time in town?”

“First and… probably won’t be the last,” you say.

A soft chuckle. “I guess you’re liking your stay in town so far.”

“It’s a beautiful place, and staying at  Jing Yuan’s B&B has been a pleasant experience so far.”

The man sighs as if reminiscing. “I’ve known him since he was a young lad. He always had… Oh, how can I put this?”

“Healthy curiosity?” 

“Yes! Thank you, Liu Liu. He was always curious but not about other people’s business.” Then, he sighs as if contemplating something. “It still boggles my mind that he’s single.”

Jingliu suddenly puts two bottles of red wine on the counter. “All right, enough with the gossip.” Then, she looks at you and takes out her wallet. “Do you want to grab anything else?”

You remember the beer Jing Yuan drank at the bar. “Do you have any beer?”

“Down the aisle and to your left,” the man answers. When you grab a small box of beer and put it on the counter, he says, “Appearances can be deceiving. You don’t look like the type to like this kind of beer.”

“...It’s not for me,” you say, taking out your wallet.

“This is the brand Jing Yuan likes,” Jingliu says, looking from the box to you.

The man puts a hand over his mouth. “Wait… Don’t tell me.”

Should you bother explaining? But then again, you don’t have an explanation. You just… want to get it for him. Out of kindness. The goodness of your heart because he’s helping you with a favour… which reminds you that you should tell your mom about it.

“What?” you ask cautiously. “Is it that strange that I know what kind of beer he likes?”

“Ah, well, I was just thinking that it’s not something someone would really pay attention to,” the man says just as you hand him your money. “Unless he told you himself.”

Jingliu looks at the man. “Now, now… Let’s not make it a big deal.”

“All right, all right. It’s just some excitement would be nice.” Then, just before you and Jingliu leave the store, he says, “Hope to see you again, lass!”

You turn around, give a small wave, and then follow Jingliu out the door.

“Say, you haven’t told me how you and Jing Yuan met.”

“It involves spoiled coffee and cake,” you say.

“Sounds like a great start to any story.”

After telling her about you and Jing Yuan’s strange encounter, Jingliu laughs. “That’s one for the books. I bet you he really did clean up the mess after you left.”

“You think?”

“I’ve known him for years. He may look intimidating, but he has a good heart.”

By the time you and Jingliu arrive at the bed and breakfast, it’s late afternoon. Pom walks out of the stone villa, and you call his name. He turns and instantly brightens.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Pom asks, making a grand gesture with his hand while bowing. He looks up. “Here for the BBQ party?”

“We also brought drinks,” you say, holding up the small box of beer. “Looks like you could use some.”

“I’m sure Jing Yuan could use some, too! Haven’t seen him for almost the entire afternoon.”

“Stuck in meetings, I assume,” Jingliu says.

“That and someone filed a complaint…”

“A complaint?” you ask. “About what?”

Pom sighs. “...They found a bed bug, and now they’re saying that we never took proper sanitary measures, which is impossible! We clean everyone’s sheets every. Single. Day. We also deep clean every single cabin every week.”

“Is Jing Yuan dealing with them now?” Jingliu asks.

Pom nods. “I tried dealing with her until she became a little too much. This woman is…” His lips form a neat line. “...She sure is something. We’re checking out her room right now.” He looks at her watch. “...Ah, Yanqing should be off school soon.”

“...Does he need someone to pick him up?” Pom looks at you. “I was at his school earlier today, so I can pick him up if no one else can.”

“That’d help a lot, actually,” Pom says with a smile. “I’m sure Jing Yuan would appreciate it. I’m heading over there right now, so I’ll let him know.”

You hand the small box of beer to Pom, and then the three of you part ways.

When you get to Yanqing’s school, his teacher tells you that he’s at the school library. She’s walking you there when she says, “Yanqing told me who you really are.”

“That doesn’t sound mildly intimidating at all.”

She laughs. “Oh, don’t worry. So, you’re Jing Yuan’s… friend?”

What’s with that little pause? You may be overthinking, but it sounds like there’s a hidden meaning behind that, and it isn’t a good one.

“You sound a little surprised.”

“Oh, I didn't mean it in a bad way. A woman has never come to pick up Yanqing before. It’s usually Blade or Luocha.”

“...Has Yanqing ever gotten bullied because of that?”

“You mean because he also calls them Dad? It has sparked a lot of questions with his classmates, but he never let it get to him.”

You reach the library, and Yanqing’s teacher pushes open the door. Yanqing and Clara are sitting at a round table, huddled over a picture book. When you get closer, you notice they’re playing Spot the Difference. They’re concentrating so intensely that they don’t hear you come up behind them. You crouch just as Clara points to a magnifying glass.

“Found it.”

“Aw… No fair.”

“Does this mean Clara won?”

They quickly turn, and then Yanqing hugs you. “What’re you doing here?”

You put a hand on Yanqing's shoulder. “I came to pick you up."

“Clara, your mom is here too.”

Clara stands just as Yanqing lets you go. Then, she says, “Um… If you’re free this weekend, it’s… it’s my birthday, and I’m having a party.”

“A party?” Yanqing asks.

“W-Well… there’s really no one else who’s going to be there but—”

“I’ll go!” Yanqing looks at you. “Can I?”

You chuckle. “Why are you asking me?”

“Because Dad will listen to you.”

While you don't want to speak for Jing Yuan, you can't see any reason for Yanqing not to go. "I don't see any reason why you can't, but let's ask him when we get back." 

Yanqing turns to Clara. “I can go!”

You almost facepalm.

“Clara.”

A young woman with long purple hair and light purple eyes walks up. She glances at you and gives a small nod. Is this Clara’s mother? Or, one of them, at least? They look nothing alike, which makes you wonder… Is Clara adopted?

“Mom!” Clara runs up to her. “I got someone to come to my birthday party this weekend.”

The woman looks at you and Yanqing. Being the outgoing child he is, Yanqing walks up and says, "Hello! My name is Yanqing!”

“I’m Clara’s mother,” she says. “Seele.”

Yanqing looks at you, takes your hand, and drags you forward. “This is my… Mom-in-training.”

You almost choke on nothing. Mom-in-training? What in the world is that supposed to mean?

“Mom…”

“...in training?” Clara finishes.

You awkwardly clear your throat. “I’m his dad’s friend. I’m just picking him up today.”

Seele and Clara nod in understanding. “That makes more sense,” Seele says. “But, you’re also welcome to come to Clara’s party. Right, Clara?”

The young girl nods eagerly. “Of course.”

How can you say no?

You and Yanqing are walking home when you’re about to pass a small food truck that’s making snacks in the shape of cute characters. When you catch Yanqing staring, you ask, “Do you want some?”

Yanqing, who’s holding your hand, shakes his head. “No.”

That isn’t the response you’re expecting.

“...Are you sure?”

Yanqing starts walking ahead, and you’re forced to follow his lead. At a red stoplight, you glance at him and see an uncharacteristically serious expression.

You can’t help but ask, “Is something wrong?”

Yanqing looks down. “...Mom and Dad used to make that for me all the time.”

You grip his hand tighter. Then, with a little smile, you ask, “Why don’t we make it together?” Yanqing looks up just as you say, “It can be part of Clara’s birthday gift.”

His eyes brighten. “Clara’s birthday gift! I already know what I wanna get her.”

You’re glad that takes his mind off of whatever is bothering him.

By the time you and Yanqing get back to the bed and breakfast, there seems to be a crowd near your cabin. Yanqing is just as curious as you, and you’re following him until you hear an angry woman’s voice.

“I demand compensation!”

Jing Yuan is standing before a middle-aged woman. Her arms are crossed, and her brows come together to clearly show how annoyed and displeased she is. When you get closer, you hear him say, “We’ve already done an extensive check on your room in addition to another round of cleaning. There are no bed bugs. There isn’t an infestation.” Then, he holds out a stack of photos. “These are photos of your room that we took minutes ago as proof.”

“Then how do you explain what I found on the bed?” she demands. “She looks around at the crowd. “All of you should check your rooms!”

Jing Yuan holds out a long and wide manila envelope. “We have cleaning records of every single cabin here.”

“...It’s also possible that you brought the bed bugs into your room,” Pom mutters.

“Excuse me?” The woman glares at Pom. “Is this how you treat your customers?” She scoffs. “By accusing them of something that they did not do?”

“Do you have proof?”

Everyone turns to you, including Yanqing.

Jing Yuan quietly says your name, surprised. Then, he sees you holding Yanqing’s hand, and his gaze softens.

“Proof?” The woman walks up to you, and Jing Yuan’s stern look returns.

“Bed bugs can come from anywhere, so there’s a strong possibility you brought them in yourself.” You glance at Jing Yuan. “He’s already provided photos and records as proof. But as for you”—you look at the woman—“all you’re doing is shouting accusations with no evidence to back up your claims.”

You hear murmurs and whispers from the crowd, and your anxiety shoots through the roof. But, you’re saying what you’re seeing.

“Aha! I finally found it!” March walks up and holds out her phone, showing an article with a large title: Taxi Company Under Fire After Bed Bugs Discovered in 7 Taxis. After reading the title out loud, she scrolls through the article while Jingliu says, “...Interesting. Were you a passenger in one of those taxis, perhaps?"

The woman's silence makes Pom say, "We could probably figure it out. All licenced cabs have dash cams."

Dan Feng sighs. “Was there really a need to make this such a big deal in public?” He frowns at the woman. “Sounds like you wanted the attention, and now it backfired. You’d better check your other belongings if those nasty little things are also crawling around in there.”

Left in an awkward position, the woman turns on her heel and leaves just as Welt approaches the group, confused about what’s been going on.

“...Did something happen?” he asks, looking at the dispersing crowd. “The barbeque’s been set for a while.”

“I texted you!” March huffs.

Jing Yuan walks up to you and takes Yanqing’s hand. “...Thanks for picking him up.”

“Well, you had other things on your plate. Didn’t think it’d be this intense.”

“That woman is weird,” Yanqing says flatly.

“She’s a good example of who you shouldn’t become,” you mutter.

“Oh!” Yanqing looks at his dad just as Jing Yuan picks him up. “I’m going to a birthday party this weekend!”

“Are you? Whose?”

“Clara!”

“...Clara?”

“They’re friends,” you say. “He, uh…”

Jing Yuan notices the look you and Yanqing are giving each other and narrows his eyes. Then, he lightly bounces Yanqing once. “Did something happen?”

“...No.”

You almost smile at how bad Yanqing’s acting is. “They kept each other company at the library.”

Yanqing nods happily.

Jing Yuan looks at you, not completely buying your story. But, instead, he looks at Yanqing and asks, “Have you decided what you’re going to get her?”

“Mom and I are going to make her snacks!”

Jing Yuan blinks in confusion. “...Mom?”

“Uh… What he means is… We’re going to make her snacks.”

Jing Yuan slightly smiles and leans closer. Is he going to do what he thinks he’s going to do? He smoothly turns to the left to whisper in your ear, “I thought we were just dating… not married.”

“We are! I mean… We—”

When you catch that little smirk on his face, you feel conflicted. Should you be angry he’s getting you flustered like this? Or…

“We don’t have to be anything for Yanqing to call me Mom,” you finally say.

“She’s Mom-in-training,” Yanqing says proudly.

“Mom…”

“...in-training?”

It’s then you notice your friends staring. March has her hands on her hips, smiling. Dan Feng stands beside her, a hand under his chin as if contemplating something. However, Pom, Welt, and Jingliu are already gone.

“Sounds like a good title for a show, if you ask me,” Dan Feng says.

“So many possibilities!” March adds. “But, first thing’s first… Our barbeque party is waiting for us!”

“Barbeque?” Yanqing asks excitedly just as Jing Yuan puts him down.

“That’s right! We have skewers, water guns, liquor—”

“He’s seven,” Dan Feng deadpans.

March pats Yanqing’s head. “...and juice! Anyway, everyone already went on ahead. So, if you two are done being in your little world, can we get a move on before they eat everything?”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Jing Yuan says.

March takes Yanqing’s hand. “Should we eat his share?”

You see Jing Yuan take out his phone and walk off with a hand in his pocket.

“...Did you think about what I said?”

Jing Yuan stops upon hearing his ex-wife's voice on the other end.

“...I have,” he says, “and I refuse.”

“You’re making the wrong choice, Jing Yuan. Yanqing can’t keep going back and forth like this. It’s taking a toll on him. The city is where he needs to be. He needs to get accustomed to life here because this is where his future is.” Jing Yuan grips his phone tighter. “If you really love him, you’d do as I say.”

“...As you say?” Jing Yuan almost scoffs. “...Yanqing may be young, but he deserves a say in what he wants in his life.”

“He’s too young to understand!"

With his patience wearing thin, Jing Yuan flatly says, “...So, by keeping him in the city means he'll have a better life? I fail to see your logic.”

“Jing—”

Jing Yuan ends the call and sighs as he puts his phone inside his pocket. He can’t remember the last time he and his ex-wife had a conversation. Whatever brief interaction they had was about Yanqing. He never thought she would come to him with an unreasonable proposal: To keep Yanqing in the city. It’s ridiculous, and Jing Yuan has no intention of agreeing.

On his way to the BBQ, Jing Yuan passes by your cabin. You walk out, dressed in high-waisted shorts and a crop top. You’re fixing your hair, making the shirt rise slightly higher to reveal more of your midriff. The sun is behind you, casting you in an almost ethereal glow. He almost can’t look away. When he finally does, he rubs his eyes with two fingers.

Then, he hears: “How long were you standing there?”

He looks to his right and sees you standing beside him. “Not long. I was just passing by.”

“March suggested I change… considering they brought water guns and all.”

As you two head in the direction of March’s cabin, he asks, “Did you find out anything useful for your research in the city?”

“I did, but…” You feel like you found out more about Jing Yuan than anything else. But, instead, you tell him about the animosity of corporations from the women you talked to today. “Did something happen in Xianzhou before?”

Jing Yuan looks straight ahead when he says, “...I mentioned before that Star Rails Hotel has been eyeing Xianzhou for a while.” Wait a minute. Were the people the women were talking about Star Rails Hotel? But, that’s impossible… right? Then, he turns to you. “Truth is, you’re not their first person to come here.”

“...Do you know someone who works there?” you ask.

“...I used to.”

The car slowly comes to a stop in front of the stone villa. “...Mind if I ask who?”

Jing Yuan shifts the gears. Then, he looks you in the eyes. “My ex-wife.”

You stop. “Your ex…” Jing Yuan stops a few steps in front of you and looks back. “Did she come here before?”

Chapter 7

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @lxry-chxn @seirenspinel @immahuman @queencybow @nqctre @grimreapersscythe @winterpein @asakenajustexistshere

[whump-in-the-closet]

A Good Day

this has been in my drafts for ages so voila

cw: messed up superhero agency and what happens to those who don't make it through training, minor whump (implied), crying in the backseat of a car, mostly just introductions to the characters, which are two brothers who've adopted this ex-hero-who-ran-from-training and the agency will do anything to get him back, also angst and scarring

____

Today is going to be a good day. 

Teddy digs a hand into the cracked leather of the armrest, picking at the plush inside. He watches the blurring sky from the car window.

He needs it to be a good day. 

On the radio, a song he doesn’t know is playing. The volume is set far too high. It’s blasting a hole through his head and he reaches over to turn it off, but stops when he realizes the teenager in the backseat mouthing along with the words.

If only excitement was infectious.

All Teddy can feel is panic. Today is going to be good. It’s going to be great…going to be good….

He sinks back into the seat, pulling the plush completely out of the armrest. He rips it into smaller and smaller pieces. Finding something to direct his growing anxiety on helps, a little. 

The car slows at a stoplight, and his brother checks on him. “Teddy?” 

Teddy waits, drawing the moment out until the light turns green and Elias has to keep his eyes on the road again. He brushes the last of the plush off his pants. “I'm good?” It comes out all wrong, like a question.

Any confidence he had earlier leaves then and now. Teddy picks the plush up from the floor of the car and starts to tear at it again. He keeps his eyes steadily on the window, watching the buildings fly past. 

Billboards. 

People. 

So many people. 

Elias lowers the music. “You want to do this,” he repeats, confident “You’ve only been talking about it for the past three months.” 

Teddy finds an unshredded piece of plush and rips it with a vicious twist of his fingers. “This was a bad idea...I’m not good enough.” 

Shit.

He hadn’t meant to say that aloud. 

Elias turns the radio off. Click. 

Shit.

“I think you’re good enough,” he says.

Cut out the emotional sap.

But Elias goes on. “The Glenn Symphony won’t even wait until the end of the audition to hire you.” 

“There’s tryouts after the audition too. Another round.” Teddy points out, vindication sharp in his mouth.

Elias lifts a hand off the wheel to wave his brother's concerns aside. “Which you’ll do amazing at. Don’t shake your head at me– Stop– you’re going to blow them away. You’ll go into one of your little trances and you’ll forget there are people even watching.” 

Teddy’s fingers still. “I don’t go into a trance.” He just forgets about everything and everyone around him and it’s just the music– just the music— all around him, until he sees the notes playing under his eyelids….

“You’re going to do great.”

The banter goes on, and on, until the nervousness seeps out of Teddy’s voice. He smiles as the back-and-forth continues. 

In the backseat, the kid laughs brightly, his voice charred and raspy enough to sound burned.

He talks in a slow cadence, testing the words before he says them. “I’m getting deja vu. But,” he points at Teddy and Elias, “the roles were switched.” Dark hair falls into his eyes as he leans forward between the seats. 

 “Yeah, I thought I would be sick at my audition.” Elias pauses for breath, then dives back into the conversation, “And Teddy, told me ‘you’re gonna be fine’. And? You were right.” 

Rufus-- the teenager--jabs Teddy in the shoulder. “Your audition is going to go just as well.” 

Elias turns again. “You tell him, Rufus.”

Teddy sighs. “If you guys say so.” He doesn’t sound convinced. 

He doesn't feel convinced.

He doesn't want to be convinced.

“Good," says Elias, "Because we’re here.”

Teddy’s stomach drops as the car pulls into the parking spot. With the jolt of the stop, Teddy’s stomach drops even further. He freezes over his seatbelt, catching sight of the massive Art Center. 

“Can we go in with you?” 

Teddy wishes his brother could come. But the restrictions said only the applicant could meet the audition committee, so he shakes his head and unbuckles his seatbelt. 

“I’ll see you in half an hour?” 

Teddy nods. “Half an hour.” He shuts the car door behind him and stares up at the glass pillars of the entrance. The world seems to spin, for a moment. Unconsciously, he fidgets with his tie and buttons his suit jacket. Then his gaze is pulled to a billboard stationed above the building. 

A girl with a halo of pink hair surveys a depiction of the city from the sky, stars swirling at her feet. Her skin bleeds into the night around her. Her eyes are alight with white flames.

Guardian Angel, they call her.

Protector of cities.

She’s a hero, a legend, a god.

Above her are the words: Savior. The heroes of tomorrow, today. 

Teddy looks away, at the car, as it pulls out of the parking lot.

The Guardian’s eyes don’t leave him until he’s inside. Even then, he can feel them boring into the back of his head. They don’t leave him as he shakes hands with the audition committee. He can still feel them when he wipes his sweaty palms on his pant leg. Only when he sits down at the piano, with the black and white keys shining up at him, do the eyes of flame fade from his memory. 

The half hour goes by in a blur. 

The piece he’s memorized for this audition is his personal favorite. As he plays, all else drains away. He’s not on a stage anymore, he’s back in the apartment, and there’s no one watching him. 

He feels good. 

The nervousness vanishes. 

Stage lights are blinding but the music drowns it out. He’s doing well, he knows it. The piano is deeper than his own and he is able to bring out sounds he could never replicate again. 

He smiles, leaning over the piano, acutely aware of the tension in his hands as he holds a long chord, and playing the melody faster. 

Just a little faster than the four four time required. 

It feels so good. 

Teddy finishes and stands. The committee promises that the callbacks will be within the week, and a few smile. 

He smiles back, fidgeting with his tie. The music is gone, replaced with uncomfortable small talk. Teddy nods, and says thank you so many times, he thinks he’ll be unable to say anything else the rest of the day. He’s saved by a text from Elias and it takes all of his self control to not run from the building. 

Teddy doesn’t look at the billboard, in fact, he does his best to forget it's there. He gets in the car, keeping his back to it. 

Elias pulls down his sunglasses. “The piano man survived!” 

Rufus leans forward, shoving the last bit of an ice cream sandwich into his mouth. “How’d you do?” At least that's what it sounds like. Teddy can’t exactly tell– Rufus’s mouth is completely full. 

Teddy laughs. He can’t help it. It’s over, and he’s out of the auditorium, and as Elias drives forward, the billboard is gone.

Teddy pulls off his tie completely and lets it fall to the floor. “I survived, yeah. I think it went well.” He’s distracted by the assortment of wrappers on the floor. “Did you guys get me any ice cream?” 

Rufus hands him a bar. 

The taste of chocolate and vanilla pushes away the last remnants of the burning eyes.

He leans back in his seat, sunlight playing across the bridge of his nose.

Some of the vanilla trickles over his hand, sticky.

Even stickier when he licks it off. 

It’s melting all over his hand when he hears the sirens. 

Loud and shrill enough to cut through metal. The sun is still bright, but the temperature drops all the same. 

Police cars have surrounded a house set by the road. Their lights flash red and blue and red again, bright enough to blind the whole street. Someone is dragged out of the house, the door hanging slightly off its hinges. 

It’s kicked and the door falls off completely, slamming into the porch. 

Someone is shouting– cursing. Cursing Savior. It’s loud enough to be heard over the sirens.   

Elias’s hands clench over the wheel and in the backseat, Rufus turns to stone, silence creeping up and strangling all three of them. 

“Get in the backseat with Rufus.” Now. Before they see him. 

Teddy says nothing and crawls over as quickly as possible. He moves to sit on the side closest to the window, shielding Rufus with his own profile. 

Elias speeds up. 

Rufus is trembling as Teddy wraps his arms around him, pulling him close. Dark braids shield his eyes but he’s whispering something over and over again. 

Rufus, who had been laughing and joking not a moment before, presses shaking hands together. He buries his face into Teddy’s shirt, and Teddy brushes back his hair, holding him tight. The word Rufus whispers is a plea. 

All it takes is a moment for the day to fall apart. 

One moment.

“Please please please please–” 

They’ve driven past the house, but Rufus continues to tremble. And beg.

The begging is worse than anything.  

Vanilla and chocolate drip over the leather seats. 

Savior. The heroes of tomorrow, today. 

[allthingsfangirl101]

Family Nerves–Steve Harrington

Requested by KingJax2

People in Indiana can be incredibly judgmental. They'll pick on you for the car you drive, your grades in school, what you do on the weekend, and your parents.

That last one is why I eat lunch alone in the woods across from our school. When I was three years old, I was adopted by a wonderful couple. This isn't why I eat lunch alone. The real reason is that I was adopted by two wonderful men.

Inclusion hasn't really made it to Indiana yet. Every once in a while, the bullying would get too much. At first, the hatred was aimed at my dads. But when I got to middle school, the hatred turned to me. Ever since then, we've started constantly moving from town to town. The summer before my senior year, my dads and I moved to Hawkins.

It was the same in Hawkins as everywhere else we've lived. People aren't blatantly rude. Just your basic stares and whispers. Kids at school have been told by their parents to stay away from me.

Everyone has stuck with it. Well, almost everyone. Everyone except Steve Harrington.

On the first day of chemistry, we were paired up as lab partners. It started off with me doing most of the work. Then it turned to innocent flirting. Steve was the only one at school who didn't treat me like I was a freak because of my dads. Then again, he didn't know.

"So, Y/N, I was thinking," Steve said as I finished mixing the chemicals for our assignment, "are you busy this weekend?"

"Just some chores I need to do for my. . . parents."

"Want any help?"

"No," I said a little too quickly. "You don't need to do that."

I cleared my throat and went back to reading the instructions. I could feel his eyes on me but I tried to ignore it.

"Well, we could do something after," Steve continued. "There's this great burger place that just opened up. We could go get dinner and then maybe hit that new comedy movie that came out last weekend."

"Wait," I said under my breath as I looked back up at him. "Are you. . . Like a date?"

"Yeah," he shrugged with the smile that had every girl in school swooning. "Do you want to go on a date with me?"

I opened and closed my mouth, unable to make words come out of it. I wanted nothing more than to go on a date with Steve. Suddenly, I thought about the moment Steve came to pick me up. What would he do when he found out I was raised by two dads? Would he be rude like everyone else? Would I lose the only friend I had?

"I can't," I stuttered. I quickly added, "This weekend. But maybe next weekend?"

Steve smiled at me, making my heart do flips. "Next weekend sounds great."

                                * * * * *

"I'm excited about our date this weekend," Steve chuckled a week later.

My stomach dropped. I guess I didn't hide it well because Steve instantly saw it. "Is something wrong?" He asked.

"I just. . . I forgot. . . My grandparents are coming into town," I stuttered to find an excuse. "I'm so sorry, Steve. My parents reminded me about it this morning. I can't believe I forgot. I am so so so sorry."

"It's okay," he smiled. "We'll just do it next weekend."

"I'm really sorry, Steve," I sighed, the guilt building up. He let out a soft chuckle as he grabbed my hand. I held my breath as he leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"See you next weekend, Y/N."

As he walked to class, my stomach sank. I ran my fingers through my hair as I tried to ignore the guilt rising up. It's been killing me lying to Steve but I wasn't ready to tell him the truth. He was the only one in all of Indiana who isn't rude to me. I couldn't lose him.

I spent the entire weekend in my room going over my lies. At school on Monday, I was barely able to look at him without being swallowed by guilt. Eventually, it was hard to look at him.

"You okay?" He whispered during our chemistry notes.

"Yeah," I whispered back.

"Talk to me, Y/N," Steve pleaded.

"We're not supposed to be talking during notes, Steve."

I heard him sigh before going back to taking notes. Throughout the rest of class, Steve continually glanced at me. He kept trying to get my attention but I acted like I was too focused on the notes. The second the bell rang, I darted for the door.

I wish I could say I got better and more mature. But I didn't. I continued to only have small talk with him all week. Friday came around and I wasn't sure if I could face him anymore. So I didn't.

I left the art room right as the bell rang. I let out a sigh of relief as I unlocked my locker. I switched out my books, humming the new song we learned in choir yesterday.

"I can't take it anymore."

I jumped at the sudden appearance of Steve. He stood by my locker, nervously adjusting his backpack.

"What?" I asked, my breath getting caught in my throat.

"I can take you pushing off our date," he sighed. "I can take you not talking to me during Chem notes. What I can't take is you avoiding me, Y/N."

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Really?" Steve smirked, crossing his arms across his chest. "You missed chemistry this morning. You never miss chemistry."

"I had to help my dad with something this morning," I lied and Steve knew it.

"Y/N," he said under his breath, "please tell me what I did to make you avoid me. I've been racking my brain the last few days, trying to figure out why you would keep pushing back our date. But now, skipping class to avoid me?"

"Steve. . ."

"I'm going crazy," he whispered, taking a step towards me. "Please, Y/N, what did I do wrong?"

"Nothing," I said under my breath. "It's not because of you."

"Then what is it?" Steve gently pushed.

"It's. . . Well. . . It's hard to explain but. . . The thing is. . ."

"Y/N?"

"There's something about me that is most likely going to change what you think of me because it's something you don't know that everybody else in this town knows and hate me because of."

"Do you not like me?" Steve asked when I still wasn't making sense. "Is that why you've avoided me and pushed back our date several times? You don't actually like me and you felt bad so you said yes."

"That's not true," I said quickly. "It has nothing to do with you, Steve. It's just. . . There's something I need to tell you about my parents."

"What are you talking about?" He asked softly.

"My parents."

"What about them?"

"My parents are. . . I was raised by. . . I was adopted."

"Y/N," he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, "I already knew you were adopted."

"It's not just that. It's. . ."

"They're strict?" He asked. "Or secretly road clowns? Please just tell me what's going on, Y/N."

"They're gay," I blurted out. "I was adopted and raised by two men."

I held my breath as I waited for his response. My mind raced with every possible outcome. He could laugh. He could be grossed out. He could get angry. He could walk away. He could stop talking to me altogether.

"That's what you were so nervous to tell me?" Steve asked sweetly. "Y/N, I don't care if they're gay or straight. All I need to know is that they're the couple who raised the girl I'm crazy about."

"Wait," I gasped, ignoring the 'crazy about' statement. "It doesn't bother you that I was raised by two men?"

Steve grabbed my hands and pulled me closer. I couldn't help but hold my breath.

"No," he whispered, "it doesn't bother me. In fact, I'd love to meet your dads."

"You want to meet them?"

"Of course," Steve chuckled. "I want to meet the men who brought you to me. How about tomorrow?"

"I think they're free," I stuttered, looking down at my feet. Steve put his finger under my chin and made me look up at him.

"Great," he smiled. "I'll call you later tonight."

                                * * * * *

I fixed my dress, my stomach in complete knots. I checked my hair for the tenth time since I did it.

"Maybe I should've straightened my hair," I mumbled.

"Absolutely not," my dad, Eric said. I turned around to see him standing in the doorway. "We love your hair curly."

"How's our beautiful girl doing?" My other dad, Oliver asked as he joined us.

"I'm really nervous," I sighed, sitting on the edge of my bed. "I've never been this nervous before."

"This is the first guy you've ever brought home," Eric tried to say gently.

"Steve's the first guy that's ever been interested in me," I said under my breath. "And the first person who hasn't been rude and judgmental of me."

Oliver sat next to me and instantly grabbed my hand. "Sweetie, I have to ask; does he know?"

"Olly," Eric sighed. "Our daughter is not ashamed of us."

"Of course I'm not," I said quickly. "I was nervous to tell him at first but when I finally did, he was so open and understanding. It didn't bother him."

"That's great," Eric smiled.

"He's the only one who found out and didn't immediately change how he saw me or talked to me," I said, tears building. "I've been rejected by so many different people. But when Steve found out. . . He smiled. Then he said he wanted to meet you guys."

"Then what's wrong, princess?" Oliver asked softly.

"I don't know," I stuttered. "I just. . . I'm scared. What if this doesn't work out? I'd lose the only person in this town who's nice to me."

"Or," Eric elongated, "he could make you happy and feel like the most amazing girl in the world."

My heart jumped into my throat when the doorbell rang.

"He's here," Oliver smiled.

"You ready for this, princess?"

I looked between my dads, my stomach in knots. Both of them grabbed one of my hands and helped me stand up.

"It's going to be okay, princess," Eric whispered. "We'll be right here the whole time."

We walked downstairs, unable to stop my nerves from making me want to vomit. My dads waited at the bottom of the stairs as I went and opened the door. My breath got caught in my throat and my face burned when I saw Steve standing there.

"Hi," I whispered.

"Hey you," he smiled. I bit my lip when Steve handed me flowers. "These are for you."

"Thank you," I said under my breath as I took the flowers from him. I looked over my shoulder to see my dads smiling at us. "Umm. . . Steve, these are my dads, Eric and Oliver."

"It's wonderful to meet you both," Steve smiled as he walked in. He held his hand out and shook Eric's hand before shaking Oliver's.

"It's wonderful to meet you too," Eric smiled.

"It's wonderful to meet the one person in Hawkins who hasn't judged our daughter for our choices," Oliver added. "Thank you for being so welcoming to our daughter, Steve. We haven't always had that."

"You shouldn't be judged either," Steve said simply. "I'm sorry about how you guys have been treated. It isn't fair."

"Thank you for saying that," Oliver said. I looked between my fathers, both of them smiling at Steve.

"Well," Eric said with a small laugh, "dinner is almost ready. Let's head into the kitchen."

Eric and Oliver walked to the kitchen but Steve and I hung back. I looked at the flowers, my heart pounding against my chest.

"How did you know?" I whispered.

"Know what?" Steve chuckled.

"That orchids are my favorite flower."

Steve smiled as he grabbed my hand, slowly pulling me closer. "You told me one day in chemistry when we were doing experiments on rose petals. I accidentally admitted that I liked roses and got all embarrassed. You smiled and said that you thought it was sweet that I had a favorite flower. You then told me that you loved orchids."

"And you remember that?" I asked.

"Of course I remember that," Steve smiled as he pulled me closer. "It was the moment that I realized that you were different. In a good way. You didn't judge me for the things that most people would. That was the moment that I first started to fall for you."

"Fall for me?" I stuttered.

"Fall for you," he repeated as he leaned in. I held my breath as our lips got inches apart.

"You two coming or what?"

Part 2

[laurenttheninth]

wip wednesday

i've been out of the game for far too long. but i've been picking slowly at two longer fics for very niche audiences, and i'm finally having fun with them again, and maybe they'll be fun for some of you, too!!! so here's an excerpt from each of them:

kayfabe 911 (911/lone star pro wrestling au) 🤼‍♂️

Buck ducked his chin. Owen levelled a disapproving look at the top of his head. “Some fans on social media are, and I quote, guaranteeing Buck’s heel turn,” he said gravely. “Someone got a little too heated while they were dragging their partner back to the locker room.” Eddie kept his eyes on Owen. He hadn’t seen the footage, but he hadn’t had to; he���d been there, Buck’s arm around his waist, his voice loud in Eddie’s ear.  Owen leaned forward, adopting the almost fatherly tone that only worked on TK. “Do you remember what you said, Buck?” Buck didn’t hesitate. “‘If you come after him, I’m coming after you.’”  Owen spread his hands, leaning back in his stupid minimalist chair. “Sounds like the death knell on Evan ‘Babyface’ Buckley, if you ask me.”  “It was a few tweets,” Buck defended, holding up his phone for emphasis. “I - I wasn’t even mic’d, you can barely – they can barely hear me –” “It happened,” Bobby said firmly. “We can’t undo it. Owen, you’re the one who preaches that you want your wrestlers to have control over –”  “I want my wrestlers to have creative input,” Owen said, almost apologetic. “I want my wrestlers to have agency over their personas and their move sets. However. I want to have control over my company.”  “You have it,” Bobby assured him. “I’m not sure I do.” “I have a suggestion,” Josh said, using a tone Eddie recognized from his days on the indie circuit. “Take Eddie out for a week or two.” “What?!”  Josh held up a hand, silencing Eddie and Buck’s protests. “We play up the chair hit as if it was a real injury; we’ll put Eddie in a sling, set him up on the sidelines. Throw Buck into the fights Eddie was slotted for, play up the exhaustion; it’s not that Buck was going dark side, it’s just that he’s so devoted to his partner! Get him on the mic, talking about how he will do anything to protect their tag team titles. And then we solidify him as a face when, a few weeks down the line, Eddie has the chance to do the same, and he –” “I’m not turning on Buck,” Eddie snapped. Josh knew Eddie was done being a heel. He’d had the audience boo him with full sincerity for far too long; any heat aimed his way these days truly burned.  “You can’t split us up,” Buck insisted, eyes wide. “We – we haven’t even had a chance to defend the titles, it would – we can’t just have the shortest tag team title reign in the history of the – I mean, we –” “We’re too good,” Eddie finished for him. “You don’t have a better pair on your roster, Strand.” “TK and Judd –”  “We’re better than them,” Eddie said. “And the fans know it.”  “Eddie,” Josh warned.  “This,” Owen said, still not sounding angry, pointing at Eddie’s face. “This is why we can’t invest in a face turn. There is a natural intensity you have, Eddie, and it’s brilliant. And it would be a shame if we didn’t lean into it.”

the untitled teen wolf x 911 crossover (self-explanatory) 🐺

The squeaky sound of wet sneakers echoed through the bay. “Hey, someone’s Jeep is blocking the – ”  Buck jogged around the ambulance, gesturing vaguely over his shoulder, and stopped when he saw the tableau before him: Derek, half a step behind Eddie, looking ready to maul the scrawny kid in the hoodie, who was staring at the firefighters with a too-knowing look. Buck turned to Eddie instantly, blue eyes wide and brow furrowed in question. “Uh, Derek? Who’s your friend?”  The kid blinked and turned to Buck, with an easy smile, sticking out his hand. “Special Agent Stiles Stilinski, FBI. Old pal of Derek’s.”  Buck crossed this distance in two long strides, giving the kid – the FBI agent? – a firm handshake. “Bu- uh, Firefighter Evan Buckley, 118.”  “Right,” the kid – how could this kid be a fed? – said, nodding. “Ladder truck on the leg, lightning strike on the job. Nice to meet you.” Buck withdrew his hand like he’d been burned. “H-how did you – ?” The kid/special agent waved away Buck’s concern with a lopsided grin. “Don’t worry, the feds aren’t comin’ for ya – keeping an eye on Derek is more of a side-hustle. Just did a quick Google search when I found out he was at this station.” And then those honey-brown eyes were fixed on Eddie, and Eddie felt his hackles rise. “Let me guess: Firefighter Edmundo Diaz? Formerly Staff Sergeant Diaz, silver star.”  “Seems you know a lot about us,” Eddie said, cocking an eyebrow. “What am I gonna find when I Google you?” The kid grinned, then, a gleam in his eye. “Nothing at all.” “Buck, Eddie,” Derek said gruffly, “give us a minute.” And then, without waiting, Derek strode forward, grabbed the kid – Eddie was never going to believe this guy was actually a special agent – and dragged him out into the rain, hissing under his breath.  Buck looked at Eddie with wide eyes. “What the hell was that?” “Don’t know,” Eddie said, staring after them. “But I don’t like it.” “Do you think that’s his Jeep?” Buck asked, tucking his hands in his pockets. “It’s blocking the captain’s truck. Looks like it’s held together with duct tape and chewing gum – hell, I’m pretty sure it’s older than that guy is. Do you - do you think he’s actually an FBI agent?”  “No,” Eddie said immediately. “But I don’t know why Derek didn’t call him out on the lie.”  “There’s a story there,” Buck said, shaking his head. “What’re we thinkin’? Derek’s on the run from the law, and this guy’s made it his life’s mission to catch him?”  “Don’t think the LAFD’s in the habit of hiring criminals at large.” Buck hummed. “Former lovers, maybe?” Eddie coughed suddenly. “What?” “I – Y-You saw the way they were looking at each other,” Buck said, gesturing vaguely after them. “That was… intense. You saw it, right?”  Eddie shook his head, but it was a lie. Whoever this kid was, whatever history he had with Derek, it was intense. But ‘former lovers’? Derek had looked ready to tear the kid limb from limb.  Then again… Eddie remembered the way Derek had looked at him, the first time. Like he wanted to devour him. It wasn’t the same intensity, but… And this kid had these wide, expressive brown eyes, long lashes, and Eddie couldn’t help but think of the way Buck had teased him once about how he had to stop batting those big brown eyes at me, Eddie Diaz, I am not coming to the pick-up game. Eddie rubbed at the tiny mole under his eye, the one Derek would drag his thumb across sometimes, and thought about the scattering of moles across the kid’s face…  But then Derek was storming back inside, hair dripping, and the kid was hot on his heels.  “ – can’t just walk away – ” the kid was saying, and Derek spun on his heel, got right up in the kid’s face, and growled something Eddie couldn’t hear – but the kid just squared his shoulders, staring Derek down, and Buck’s hand was on Eddie’s arm, holding him back from rushing towards them – 

anyway that's all for now and i'm feeling weirdly shy about tagging people so if you have something you wanna share, consider this your tag to do so!!!!!!!

[janetbrown711]

These Hands of Mine are Clumsy, Not Clever

Pigsy and kids go apartment shopping in the snooty part of town and Pigsy hates just about every second of it. He then shows the kids a thing or two around the restaurant until Tang shows up and shows him a thing or two too

tw for Tw for internalized/external fatphobia, microaggressions, and extreme self deprecation.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Ao3 Link

Being a demon in a highly human populated city was difficult, even under regular circumstances.

Being a demon in an uppity rich people neighborhood with two orphans who did not look like they belonged to him was a whole other kind of difficult.

He could practically feel the eyes on him the moment he set foot outside of the subway behind Mei and MK, who were none the wiser. Pigsy was no stranger to stares and so just tried to keep his eyes low, hands in jacket pockets, and mind focused on their destination, while also making sure Mei and MK were on track too.

It had been two days since the adoption, and the second time they had really ever gone “out”, and the first time they set foot in a wealthier part of town. He always had a distaste for the upper crust of Megapolis, but he knew now for the kids’ sake, he was going to have to learn to get used to all the looks. After all, his only other option would be making his glamor suddenly twenty million times stronger and just wear a human disguise 24/7, and– yeah, that wasn’t gonna happen.

A part of him wished Tang was here– sure, he had a bit of social anxiety with everyone except him, for some reason, but him being a human would probably cut all the gawking in half.

Nono– that was a stupid thought– you don’t just ask customers to go apartment shopping with you– that’s weird. And he clearly has some kind of anxiety-! Pigsy could never ask him to go out with him to go out with the kids and him and face all that judgment and stuff. He never asked for this!

Pigsy was a grown ass man, he could handle this himself.

After a couple twists and turns, as well as accidentally taking a wrong turn and having to walk back three blocks and make a left instead of a right, they arrived at the truly massive apartment complex that was nothing like his part of town in the slightest.

The building had that kind of futuristic architecture to it that wasn’t exactly unfamiliar– gentrification had been growing in Megapolis for years– but this building you could tell wasn’t overpriced and poorly made. No, it was curved and classy and if he tilted his head it could kind of look like a crystal chandelier.

He didn’t do that for long, of course, and ushered MK and Mei inside, receiving strange looks from the massive security desk.

“Can I help… you?” A guard asked from behind his desk.

“I’ve an appointment, bud,” Pigsy rolled his eyes and showed him the printed out email. The guard looked it over, then looked Pigsy over, before silently pointing to his right with his thumb as an audible click rang out.

Something told Pigsy he wasn’t going to be getting anymore conversation out of that guy and so took the hint and opened the door for Mei and MK and they went into the main lobby.

Though ‘lobby’ did not feel like the proper word for Pigsy– it was more like an airport terminal. It was truly gigantic with a lot of benches and shops and rich people services, including a spa.

“Mr. Piggy, can we look at candy?” Mei pulled on his sleeve and pointed to a candy stand.

“We’re gonna be late for our appointment and I need you two to not get lost,” Pigsy shook his head and looked over the print-out he’d shown the guard. The chef, however, made a fatal mistake when he glanced at the kids a second and saw them putting on their best puppy dog faces.

“Gah– maybe after– we really can’t be late,” Pigsy rubbed his forehead.

“I’ll take it!” Mei grinned widely and Pigsy wondered when oh when did he become so soft.

Eventually he figured out their guide’s office was on the seventh floor, so they had to locate an elevator and take that up. And christ– even the elevators were fancy. They all had benches and a guy to specifically push the buttons and most were made of glass so you could look down at everyone in that rich person’s version of a marketplace.

When they stepped out of the elevator, the secretary behind the desk labeled “Rent and Housing Affairs”, didn’t even try to hide her gawking, staring at Pigsy with wide eyes.

Great.

“Um...Hi.” He said curtly, causing the lady to snap out of her disturbed trance. “I have an appointment with Zhao Fen. Name’s Zhu Bajie.”

“R-right, yes, let me just…” She glanced at Pigsy again before shaking her head and focusing on her computer screen. While they waited, Mei and MK wandered over to the fish tank in one of the walls and watched them.

“Ah– um– are those children..?” The secretary glanced at Pigsy again.

“...With me?” He asked, which made her laugh awkwardly. Pigsy rolled his eyes and nodded. “Yes, they’re my kids– what’s this gotta do with my appointment?”

“O-oh, well I have to report any unaccompanied minors and– just– nevermind,” She smiled a bit before typing more.

“Ah, yes, I see your name right here and– Aha-! Miss Zhao is expecting you, so you can just head on back– third door on your right,,” She said, hitting a buzzer and yet another door clicked.

“C’mon Mei, Mk,” Pigsy called for them and they scurried back and down three doors on their right, where Pigsy knocked on the door labeled, “Miss Zhao Fen – Head Leasing Agent”.

“Come on in,” A voice called from behind, and after taking a long breath, Pigsy did.

Immediately upon seeing Pigsy though, Miss Zhao Fen nearly choked on her coffee and had to spend a solid minute clearing her throat.

“Y-you’re… Zhu Bajie?” She asked, looking him up and down like all the other fifty billion strangers he’d met.

“Yes,” Pigsy said, and before she could even ask he pulled out the email and his ID, both of which she took from his hand and looked over.

“Right– Zhu meaning Pig,” She shook her head as she looked at the papers.

“Hmm… Well I suppose everything appears to be in order. You may sit,” She said, gesturing to the four seats across from her desk. Mei and MK had no trouble at all, but Pigsy felt the sides of the seat squeeze his hips again and all he could think to himself was if this place was really so high and mighty why on earth couldn’t they just get more comfortable chairs.

His question was slightly answered when he could see the corner of her mouth flickering as she examined her screen.

Shocking, truly.

“Mr… Zhu, tell me, how exactly did you hear about this building?” Zhao Fen asked.

“Recommended,” He stated, and the kids gave him funny looks that he replied with a small shrug.

“By whom?” She looked at the demon.

“A friend and a lawyer.”

The head leasing agent typed a few more things into her computer, clicked a few things, typed more things before asking: “Mr. Zhu, are you sure this neighborhood is right for… your kind?”

Pigsy’s eye twitched. “Why yes, I am sure.”

“‘Your kind’? What’s Mr. Piggy’s ‘kind’?” Mei tilted her head and the agent was reminded of MK and Mei’s presence.

“Well– I’m of course referring to your salary. Monthly rent averages about 50k a month, and I just don’t think–”

“I have the evidence of income– it was in all those emails, so how's about you skip your little lecture and give the dang tour already, hm? Pigsy snapped.

The lady huffed and typed more things, making Pigsy bite his tongue.

Him and his goddamned temper…

“Says here you’re just looking for a three bedroom two bath?” She asked, and he nodded. With a huff, she typed more things, and then dug through a drawer for a ring of keys.

“Alright, let’s do this,” She said, walking out of her office and holding open the door for them. Mei and MK thanked her as they walked out while Pigsy gave a single nod.

She led them out of the office section and into an unfortunately not glass elevator, where she hit the button for the 75th floor and it took them up at dizzying speeds that made their ears pop and the chef grab the handle. Once it halted, she quickly walked down and led them to apartment 7512 and unlocked it.

And holy fucking shit– this place was like the goddamn Ritz– marble flooring and everything.

“This here is the foyer, that to your left is a Bluthner Grand Piano. Down this way is the Grand Hallway which has a door on your left to the library/office–” She said, taking them down and showing them the massive collection of shelves and books within.

“It comes with your standard copies of Journey to the West, Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Dream of the Red Chamber but also some more western classics as well. The rest is up for you to decide, of course,” She said, and upon hearing Journey to the West, MK immediately ran to the shelves and started looking for it.

“Should… we..?” She looked at the boy strangely.

“It’ll keep him busy,” Pigsy shrugged.

“Alright then,” She said, stepping out and Pigsy and Mei followed since MK was content to curl up on one of the couches and read.

“From here we enter the open concept living room, kitchen, and dining area– all with state of the art technology, including automated curtains in case you don’t want all the light from the wall-to-floor windows getting in. There’s also a gas fireplace, a 108 inch TV, and if we go to the kitchen you’ll see two gas stoves, plenty of cabinet space and the latest Whirlpool fridge,” She said, casually pointing to each thing as Pigsy went to inspect the kitchen and Mei the living space, which included her flopping on each individual couch and pile of blankets set out.

Pigsy almost laughed as he examined the stainless steel stove– this place completely lacked character unlike back home. The marble and shine on every single surface rang out a song of consumerism, and how they would be replaced in two years tops under most owners without a doubt.

But goddamn was it nice.

“Woah-! Mr. Piggy! If you stand like this and look down at the ground it feels like you’re falling!” Mei had her forehead pressed against the glass and was laughing.

Miss Zhao gave Pigsy a look.

“Kid– maybe back away from there, we don’t want you getting sick,” Pigsy urged, which Mei groaned at but obeyed– now sporting a big red splotch on her forehead that made the chef laugh a little again.

She then proceeded to show the pig demon the bedrooms, which were way too big in his opinion– especially the master’s suite, which was probably the size of his current apartment and then some.

Mei really liked them though– she even called MK and they explored the walk-in closets and built-in shelves and how the two other bedrooms were connected to each other via a bathroom so they could hang out whenever (as if they couldn’t do that regularly but whatever). They flopped onto beds to test their bounce, did a race to crawl underneath them and end on the other side, and other kids stuff, and during most of it MK was still holding volume one of Journey to the West.

Pigsy couldn’t deny the place was nice– but he just felt so alien here.

Of course, he was alien here– this whole building probably didn’t have any demons whatsoever in all ninety five floors, unless they worked in the mail room or something.

He felt a bit like how MK did– finding something familiar and latching onto it; only difference was that he didn’t have something to latch onto, except maybe that oven and fridge.

“So what do you think, Mr. Zhu?” The agent suddenly asked for his opinion.

“Ah, you know it’s certainly nice and all– but a little big, isn’t it?” He scratched his head.

“This is amongst the smallest suites we offer here, Mr. Zhu. If you want smaller, you can look in your own neighborhood,” She tsked and wrote something down on a notepad.

“Woah! Mr. Piggy–! I can totally fit under the sink all twisty like!” MK called out from the other room.

“Can you get out though?” Pigsy was about to step in but MK slid right out with a big grin and thumbs up, to which Mei made him do it again and Pigsy relaxed a little.

“You know, Mr. Zhu, I think those children of… yours seem to really like this place. I can show off a few more if you’d like, but this is the only one of this size that will be pre-furnished, especially with that 1870 Bluthner piano,” She said.

Now, Pigsy wasn’t an idiot, he knew when he was being upsold and manipulated.

But at the same time, he really, really didn’t want to have to look over any more places, and the kids did look and sound kind of happy..?

And god– he really, really didn’t want to go furniture shopping…

“I’ll think about it,” He decided.

“Let’s continue then, shall we?”

The group proceeded to tour five more apartments, each stranger and bigger than the last and by the sixth, everyone was just about done. The entire time Pigsy half wished he just chose the first one and got this over with, but he knew it was better to compare and blahblahblah, he was a responsible adult.

Pigsy said he’d think about the offers before selecting anything and the trio was finally, finally free of that awful building and the stench of rich people. They made their way down the streets with haste and for once in his life, Pigsy was happy to reach the filthy subway, and happily paid for his and the kids fares and sat on the bench to wait for their train. However, after a bit of waiting Mei tapped his arm.

“Yeah kid?”

“...You forgot to go back to the stand for the candy,” Mei said, kicking the ground.

Fuck.

“I’m sorry– I forgot– I was just so sick of that place and–” He face palmed. “I’ll… I’ll make it up somehow.”

“No, it’s fine, Mr. Piggy– I shouldn’t’ve said anything,” Mei apologized, taking a step back.

“Kid–” Pigsy would’ve said more, but the rush and roar of their subway train snagged his thoughts and he focused on preparing them to get on.

“Great Job, Pigsy. Day three and you’re already breaking promises!”

The subway ride was pretty miserable for Pigsy now, who was kicking himself for forgetting something so simple, though MK and Mei were managing to mess around as they always did, reading the weird advertisements and maps and PSA’s plastered everywhere. He was happy they could bounce stuff off like that, but it kind of made Pigsy hate himself more for holding onto it.

When the train stopped, Pigsy was relieved to be back in his familiarly dirty and smelly part of town where the neighbors knew and didn’t give a shit about him. He took a deep breath of the cigarette stained air to really embrace his return home and felt himself finally relax after six hours in that hell hole.

“What’re we gonna do now, Mr. Piggy?” Mei asked, and Pigsy realized he didn’t have a clue. The day had started so early but felt like an eternity– there was still plenty of daylight to burn. As they got closer to the apartment Pigsy got an idea though.

“How’d you two like a proper tour of Pigsy’s Noodles? I can show you some of the food stuff and– shoot, I got delivery day tomorrow… Well that’s a problem for Wednesday. What’d ya say?” Pigsy asked.

“Can I touch the grill?” Mei asked with stars in her eyes.

“Uh– maybe when it's off?” Pigsy wasn’t sure what the safe answer to that was.

Mei gave an excited “ous” with an arm pump for extra measure as they walked across the street and around the alley where Pigsy unlocked the backdoor to the restaurant and flicked on the light switch, which caused the light to buzz at just the right frequency to bug Pigsy– and apparently MK too (he really should get that fixed).

“Alright, well– right over here is where we keep our ‘dry stock’-- things like bags of rice, dried chillies, flour– basically anything with a real long shelf life,” Pigsy said, and MK and Mei smacked the bags of rice with a giggle before MK raised his hand.

“What’s ‘shelf life’?”

“Ah– um– how long something can last before it gets mold and stuff,” Pigsy summed up.

“Oh, I know that,” MK made a face and shook his head.

pigsy was going to continue but Mk raised his hand again.

“Do we have to eat any of the food when it gets all moldy and stuff?”

“What-?! No– not even a little– kid, what makes you ask?”

“O-oh I didn’t eat mold like– a lot– it's just sometimes when my mom was mad at me for not eating and stuff– I-i’m fine-! It was just a punishment–! My fault really,” MK shook off the concerned look and laughed.

“Kid–” Pigsy closed his eyes and thought very carefully about what he was going to say next. “That’s…. that’s not okay– and it’s not normal, and it’s certainly not your fault. That– that’s practically poison for christ’s sake– I–” Pigsy took a breath, finding it hard to look at MK’s confused dark eyes.

“Just… again, you really don’t have to worry about that anymore, so… don’t. Please.”

Pigsy knew he could’ve phrased it better, especially as he saw MK being very much not swayed by his pathetic attempt at a heart-to-heart. He tried to talk again, but he just knew he’d fuck it up again. With a heavy sigh, he continued the tour.

He showed them where the “dry stock” was, where everything was kept and what stuff they were allowed to get down and stuff they should ask him about first, then he started to show them the kitchen, where Mei immediately put her hands on the grill, but it was fine because it was off anyways. He showed them pots and pans, and then he showed them the register, and said maybe in a year or two they could work it themselves, which they ‘ooo’-ed and ‘ahhh’-ed at.

Pigsy was good in his restaurant. He knew what he was doing when it came to cooking and noodles and cleaning and stuff.

But as he watched Mei and MK mess around and push random buttons on the turned off register, Pigsy couldn’t help but think about how he was terrible with people.

A part of him blamed his father and his bullshit parenting style, but another part of him knew he was an asshole anyways– getting into fights, smoking, picking way too many battles– he was dogshit at emotions, except for anger and self hatred.

He wasn’t built for this– he wasn’t built for any of this– God– everytime he looked at these kids he felt like he learned something even more fucked up than the previous time and he was just so helpless in all of it– and god– his instincts just wanted him to be worse– to yell and get impatient and roll his eyes– it was probably because he was a demon. He knew the stereotypes, and dammit, it fit almost every bill.

The kids didn’t need a demonic caretaker. They needed someone who could walk them down the street or take them to the park or something and not be met with stares or suspicion– someone who was good and nice on instinct– someone who had patience and could talk well– someone like–

A knock at the window snapped him out of his head, and his heart nearly stopped when he noticed–

“Mr. Tang!” MK waved from the register and the man waved back with a laugh.

Moving quickly with embarrassment, Pigsy stepped out from behind the counter and unlocked the door for his esteemed regular.

“We aren’t open, you know,” The chef said as he opened the door.

“Ah, you’re always open for me Pigsy,” Tang winked and stepped in. “Also– wow, you’ve got to tell me who your repair guys are because this is just– wow,” the customer looked around and whistled.

“Would if I could,” Pigsy shrugged and locked the door behind him.

“What do you mean by that?” Tang raised an eyebrow and laughed in that adorable way he did.

“Two days ago the place was just magically fixed up– literally don’t have a clue as to why or how,” The chef said and the kids “mhm”-ed in agreement.

“Ooo, maybe a fox spirit came in the night and fixed this place up for you,” Tang wiggled his fingers in a manner that made the kids laugh.

“Yeah, because I know fox spirits,” Pigsy rolled his eyes and went back behind the counter to start boiling water as Tang took his seat at the bar.

“Ooo– You gonna order something? Whatcha gonna get? I can punch the numbers in!” MK said excitedly.

“Hey– I wanna take Mr. Tang’s order!” Mei protested.

“Neither of you are going to take his order– he always wants the same thing and he never pays for it,” Pigsy teased his only customer.

Mei gasped. “But Mr. Piggy, you said everyone has to pay for their food.”

“I’m an exception, kiddo,” Tang smirked as he pulled his laptop from his bag and Pigsy started up the grill.

“What? Why?” MK asked. Pigsy felt his heart stop, and so forced himself to start slicing peppers while he waited for the pot to boil so he didn’t have to look at Tang.

Why?

Because Tang was cute. Because he came in looking as thin as a noodle. Because he smiled so stupidly at Pigsy at the register. Because he was so embarrassed he was short on change he looked like he was going to cry. Because he looked so happy when Pigsy said he’d give him the first one free. Because the stranger kept coming in short on change. Because Pigsy ‘forgot’ to ring it a few times. Because after a while he stopped pretending to even try to pay. Because Pigsy liked poking fun at the fact he never charged him. Because he was special. Because he was Tang.

“Because Mr. Pigsy here is very nice,” The customer said, and Pigsy nearly sliced his finger off in surprise. He glanced over his shoulder at Tang, who was smiling at him so warmly it made Pigsy’s face turn as red as the peppers he was cutting.

He quickly looked away and got back to slicing.

“Besides, I have like– no money and a man’s gotta eat,” Tang joked and Mei laughed.

“You picked the right place then because there’s no noodles like Pigsy’s Noodles,” MK said with a cheeky grin.

“Oh? That a new slogan?” Tang perked up in surprise.

“What’s a slogan?” MK tilted his head and Pigsy chuckled.

“Well look at that– you’re practically head of advertising,” Tang winked at the kid and got to typing on his laptop.

“Mr. Piggy, what does that mean?” MK turned to the chef.

“Means you’re smart and creative and stuff, kid– it’s a compliment,” Pigsy said, still not looking back as he started grilling the vegetables.

“Oh,” MK blinked, looking back at Tang. “...Thanks.”

“No problem, MK,” Tang smiled again.

MK smiled right back and got back to his important job of pushing buttons on the register, while Mei crept behind Pigsy and watched him work.

“You interested in cooking, kid?” Pigsy asked as he started to stir the noodles.

“I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen at home– this is cool,” Mei said, trying to peer into the far too tall pot.

“It is cool,” Pigsy nodded to himself, before asking, “Do you… want a stool or something?”

Mei nodded excitedly and Pigsy told her where it was in the cleaning supplies and the girl immediately scurried off to fetch it, returning in a flash and immediately sticking her head directly over the pot.

“Wow, that’s a lotta steam,” She said, having to lean back and blink it out of her eyes.

“Yeah– uh– hot water… does that,” Pigsy again fucked up talking like human being. Mei giggled a little and watched as Pigsy stirred and added salt before going to the sink to strain them.

Then he added the sauces, vegetables, and spices and in no time at all, Tang’s noodles were ready and Pigsy handed them off to his regular, all while Mei cheered and ‘ooo’-ed him on.

“You okay, Pigsy? You seem a little off today,” Tang said in a hushed tone, taking the bowl and accidentally brushing the chef’s fingers.

“I… went apartment shopping in the upper east side,” Pigsy said, quickly pulling his fingers away and handing Tang chopsticks.

Tang sucked in a breath. “Yeah, that can’t have been easy.”

“Y-yeah,” Pigsy couldn’t look at him again.

Tang furrowed his brow. “Do… you need to talk about it?”

“Wh-what? No, please– This is standard procedure– I knew what I was getting myself into– I’m fine. Really,” he tried to assure, but he was aware he sounded like a big idiot.

“Hey MK, Mei– how’d you two like to sit in a booth and color out these Journey to the West coloring pages, huh?” Tang suddenly switched gears and pulled out coloring sheets and a box of crayons from his bag.

“Would I?!” MK leapt from the register and dashed around the corner, immediately taking the papers and going to go color, and Mei followed in her friend's steps.

“What are you doing?” Pigsy whispered.

“A favor. Now tell me what’s going on,” His customer pleaded with him but Pigsy shook his head and started cleaning things up.

“Like I said, it’s nothing I’m not used to,” He half lied.

“You know that doesn’t make anything any easier, right?” Tang said, finally starting to eat his food.

“O-of course I know that–” Pigsy flustered. “I-i just– it’s fine. I’m fine.”

“...It’s not just you having been uptown, is it?” Tang asked.

Pigsy sighed as he scooped up the leftover bits of chili and tossed them into the trash. “I… maybe– but again, I–”

“I knew it,” Tang interrupted him. “Do you wanna talk somewhere more private?”

“Well– who’d watch them?” Pigsy crossed his arms.

“Psh, they have coloring pages and it’s not like they’re four or anything– they’ll be fine,” Tang brushed it off. “C’mon– let’s talk in the back.”

Pigsy would’ve protested more, except that Tang already walked over with his bowl and chopsticks still in hand.

Oh boy…

Pigsy followed him to the back “office” – which was really just a folding table and two chairs with a crap laptop and corkboard and when Pigsy hesitated to sit, Tang patted the chair next to him, making Pigsy feel wildly embarrassed.

“So what’s the matter?” Tang asked as he continued to eat.

“You know this area is supposed to be for employees only,” Pigsy gave him a look.

“You’re trying to deflect and it will not work my dear Pig Man,” Tang smirked and Pigsy gave him yet another look.

“Look– you can judge me all that you want but we’re at least friends, aren’t we? And friends care about when other friends are going through something so– just– tell me what’s wrong,” Tang said with such a genuine tone that it made Pigsy actually want to talk to him, which was insane to say the least.

“I… just… I’m not…” Pigsy took a deep breath in and out.

“I’m not good at this, Tang. I-i don’t know why I even agreed to this– I’m not a human, or a dragon, or fucking royalty– I’m just some fat pathetic lowlife of a demon with anger issues. I don’t even know what to say to them half of the time–! and they’ve just– they’ve been through so much Tang, especially that MK and I just–” Pigsy ran his fingers against his head. “I don’t think I cando this.”

“Pigsy, you aren’t some lowlife–”

Pigsy huffed in contempt.

“You’re a good person, Pigsy– that’s why you did this. You have a big heart deep in there and you care for the little guy,” Tang set down his chopsticks and put his hand closer to the chef on the table.

“Tang… I learned your name three days ago… a-and there’s just so much you and the kids and no one else knows about me, and I just– I hurt people, Tang. It’s my instinct to snap or yell or get frustrated and they don’t need that,” Pigsy looked away.

“Pigsy–”

“You don’t know me, Tang. Y-you’re just some freeloader who hasn’t been here long enough to know just how much pain I’ve caused those I care about– I mean– christ, you don’t even know about Sandy– a-and–” Pigsy realized what he said and his face fell.

“God– I did it again-! I mean– Jesus, Tang-! Look at me! I-i’m a fucking mess-! A mess you barely even know–” Pigsy felt a tight lump start to form in his throat.

“Pigsy–”

“A-and that’s a good thing, Tang… you shouldn’t know me– those kids shouldn’t know me– Nobody should– god I’m such a mess,” Pigsy whispered that last part to himself.

Tang sat in that confession for a moment, before inching his hand closer.

“Well what if I want to know you, hm? What if I want to know the kind noodle shop owner who’s given me free food for a year without even knowing my name?”

“Tang–”

“No Pigsy– what if I want to know the absolute saint of a pig man who risked life and limb for kids he didn’t even know and had no obligation to protect? What if I want to know the man who took in those two kids just so they wouldn’t be separated? Hm? Have you ever considered that I should have a say or could have a want in this? I’m an adult, I can make my own decisions,” Tang protested further.

“Tang, you don’t–”

“No– don’t you try and deny it– those are good things Pigsy and you did them because you are good,” Tang placed a hand on Pigsy’s shoulder that caused the demon to look at him.

“But you don’t–”

“But I do, Pigsy. I do know that because bad people wouldn’t do any of those things– hell, even just decent people wouldn’t. Even if your instincts are to fight or curse or yell, you do it for the right people and the right reasons, and if you didn’t in the past, who gives a shit because you do now, and now is all I or anyone else should care about,” Tang’s hand traveled down his arm until he reached the chef’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

“They don’t deserve someone with a past like mine, Tang. They deserve someone who’s always been sweet and kind and good and– and someone like you,” Pigsy looked away.

“You think I’m... sweet?” Tang blinked, and Pigsy realized what he just said.

“I… um… y-yeah. I-i guess I do,” He shrugged a little, which made him also realize he was holding Tang’s hand. More importantly, he realized he wasn’t letting go either.

“I think you’re sweet too, Pigsy– a lot more than you give yourself credit for,” Tang smiled that stupid little smile he always had as he gave Pigsy’s hand another squeeze.

“I– um– Th-thanks… but I’m still– I’m just in so over my head, you know? I still don’t think I can do this alone,” He practically whispered.

“But you aren’t alone– you have me,” Tang’s hand moved back to his shoulder, before his eyes widened, making him pull away and spout– “i-if you want me to help– o-of course, I’m not like– intruding, I’m just saying– I-i–”

Pigsy suddenly laughed and now it was his turn to place a hand on Tang’s shoulder.

“I’d like that, Tang. I’d like that a lot.”

“Thanks,” Tang sighed a breath of relief as he looked back at Pigsy. “Again, you really are a big softie in there, you just gotta let yourself see it.”

“Yeah, I guess you might be a little right,” Pigsy laughed weakly with a playful shrug, and Tang rolled his eyes and laughed too.

“You know I’m right– and hey, if someone as ‘sweet’ as me can like someone as ‘awful’ as you, you really can’t be all that bad, can you?” Tang pointed out.

Pigsy had to think about that for a moment.

“Eh. You’re just different– an angel among men,” Pigsy half-joked.

“You think I’m an angel?” Tang laughed, his face flushing ever so slightly.

“Ah– well– you know–” Pigsy tried to wave off the emotion, but Tang placed a delicate hand on his cheek, which instantly got ten degrees warmer. It was made even worse when Pigsy instinctively placed his hand atop Tang’s, despite his heart pounding a mile a minute.

Suddenly, his regular was leaning really close, looking at Pigsy’s deep, dark eyes with a million emotions at once, and the chef knew he was looking back with a similar gaze. When neither one broke, Tang closed his eyes, tilting his head ever so slightly and as Pigsy closed his eyes and returned the lean, he soon knew the taste of perfection.

Tang leaned back for a second, looking the chef in the eyes to comment, “I think you’re pretty angelic yourself,” before Pigsy smiled and kissed the customer right back.

Heaven.

This was what heaven felt like.

“Mr. Piggy– look at what I drew for– what are you doing?” The small voice of MK made the two men practically fall out of their chairs and they stumbled to their feet, their faces hot and red with embarrassment.

“A-ah well, me and Mr. Tang here w-were just discussing–”

“--We were discussing some ingredient improvements for the rice noodles– it was a little dry,” Tang finished his sentence. Pigsy looked at him worried for a second before Tang shook his head slightly and Pigsy relaxed.

“Oh– well– uh– I drew you-! I-if you wanna see it– haha…” MK suddenly got embarrassed until Pigsy opened his hand, and the boy handed it over.

On the plain backside of the coloring sheet was a fairly impressive drawing of the chef’s battle three days ago with the tiger demons, though with the added detail of having a staff, a cape, and looking much cooler than he probably did.

“I love it, kiddo,” Pigsy smiled and gave the kid a thumbs up.

“R-really?!” MK beamed.

The chef chuckled. “Of course, kid. Would I lie to you?”

MK shook his head.

“Good, glad you know that,” Pigsy winked. “Mind if I put it up back here? Might help bring some life to all the paperwork I gotta do.”

“Wow– okay!” MK flapped his hands a little, which made Pigsy ruffle his hair before finding a thumb tack and adding it to the corkboard.

“See? Even the kid thinks you’re a hero,” Tang whispered with a smirk as he grabbed his noodles and started eating once more.

That… was true. Despite his fuck ups, MK still clearly looked up to him. Pigsy would have to be heartless to try and leave now– hell, the kid would probably just blame himself and Pigsy wasn’t going to let that happen.

No, like the drawing showed, he cared for these kids, and yeah, he had bad habits and tendencies, but he did good things too… Maybe. Look– he was going to work on it so… yeah.

These kids didn’t deserve the bad, but they did deserve the good, and Pigsy would provide that for them in a heartbeat, and that was a Pigsy guarantee.

Wait…Holy fucking shit— did he and Tang just kiss—???

[emmy-dekarios-bg3]

Heart of the Weave - A Baldurs Gate fanfiction

CHAPTER 21

“What a beautiful night,” Gale comments, observing the twinkling stars in the sky. He holds my left hand, whereas I’m holding Jenevelle with my right arm, keeping her close to my chest. The buildings around us are occupied by people outside eating dinner or having a get-together of sorts. The mumbling of chatter and sounds of distant laughter brings me joy for whatever reason; maybe because it’s a positive environment I’m beginning to get accustomed to.

The moment Gale and I walk into the restaurant, I immediately notice Karlach dancing aggressively to the bards playing some heavy tunes with their lutes and flutes. The song we happened to barge into at this very moment was a sea shantee. I’m not surprised that Karlach is dancing to sea shanties, but I am rather shocked at the fact I notice Lae’zel at the table with our group. Minsc and Jaheira, however, could not make it.

“L-Lae’zel?” My voice is questioning her presence. “You made it!” She turns around, smiling as she notices me walking toward our group of friends.

“Emmy. How I missed you. I’m so glad to be here with you for such a short time. No ghaik in sight. No devils. It’s nice.” Lae’zel’s voice is so soft, you could fall asleep to it; unless she’s in battle, then you may just piss your pants. “I’m so sorry I’ve been absent. It’s been a busy life for me and the young one.”

“Say, how is githyanki mom life?” She has a light smile on her face and nods, giving me the impression she actually enjoys it. She was so protective of the egg, it doesn’t surprise me that she’s a good mother.

“My young hatched and already running on his two feet, ready for action or whatever comes his way. Though, he loves to play and I admire seeing it. I’m allowing him to live his life the way he wants. I will not force githyanki culture on him. He’s too pure, too innocent for the world… Or that could be me talking. Who knows.” Lae’zel notices Jenevelle curled up in my arm, giving her a smile. She really has changed, and it’s so nice to see her less abrasive than when I met her. I will admit it may take some getting used to.

We all catch up with one another, chatting the night away. The baby was held by nearly everyone that showed up, though Astarion was still unsure. He wants to, but part of him is afraid of accidentally hurting her.

“We got approved for the adoption!” Shadowheart exclaims. “I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer. We visit with the little one tomorrow.”

“I promise I’ll get used to the idea. This was all so…sudden. It was brought up to Shadowheart unexpectedly and then out of nowhere – we’re going to be parents,” Astarion chimes in. He seems to be rather antsy. “I never saw that this is where my life would be.” Shadowheart rubs his back with her hand and smiles at him, which seems to put him at ease a little because I notice his shoulders relax just a tad.

“Man, you have all gone through some major life changes. Becoming parents…ha. Who would have seen the day after all we’ve been through? I never lost faith in you all. It’s just a miracle we’re all alive, and I’m forever grateful,” Halsin utters, his voice loud and proud. We all raise our wine-filled glasses. “To us!”

“To us!” We all exclaim, then take a swig of our drink. Karlach approaches the table from the dancefloor with shaky legs and a wobbling body.

“Whoa there, love. Did you drink a little too much?” Wyll asks her with a voice of concern. “Maybe…you should take a break now.” She laughs, leaning her head back and enjoying life; she deserves it. Her engine she had before put her through Hell and nearly killed her. I’m glad she’s here with us and able to take it all in, one day at a time.

“I’m pretty sure Wyll and I will be the only ones not having kids,” Karlach mentions with slurred words. “I’m good with just watching Emmy and Gale’s baby. I’ll never get to see her grow up though, that’s a shame.” Lae’zel looks at me with trepidation, and at that moment I realized we haven’t told her about what went down with the devils.

“What…do you mean?” she asks. “Emmy?”

“It’s a long, frustrating story but in short, Zariel wanted Jenevelle’s soul so we could destroy the crown and Raphael all together. Jenevelle has a potent strand of the weave within her that it was enough to destroy him. In exchange, she would become immortal. If we didn’t, she would have become a thrall and used in the Hells. With the way Raphael tortured Hope… I can’t even think about it.” Lae’zel nods, as if she completely agrees with my decision. I expected a harsh tone or some sort of argument, but no. I wonder if it’s because she’s a mother herself.

“I completely understand. You made the right choice. The way those devils operate is sickening, vile, and pitiful. Sad enough, the only way to get on their good side is to be in debt with them. I… I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Lae’zel has come so far with so much growth, that hearing her speak is nearly bringing tears to my eyes.

I can finally say that I am content with how life is. We won’t have to deal with the heinous devils any longer, Raphael is dead for good, and I got to see Lae’zel again. Gale and I can finally live happily like we were meant to. Who knows what the world has in store for us?

{PART 1 is now complete! I’ll be working on part 2 shortly! See the entire part 1 of “Heart of the Weave” on AO3}

[jmagnabo92]

HJP Week 7 - Different Magic, Same Found Family

@harryjamespotterweek

Harry celebrates his birthday with his found family.

AO3

***

There weren’t many things that Harry would find himself surprised at, not after everything he’d been through throughout the years, but running into a different sort of magical problem than he’s used to was definitely surprising.  

Even more surprising was falling in love with the delightful Emma Swan.  Unfortunately, the magical problem that took Emma away from her parents could only be solved by leaving her once more alone and without them.  He knows that she’s been taking it hard, but he’s hoping that showing her that a found family can be just as good as having her actually family by bringing her back to the UK and introducing her to his found family for his birthday.  

Although, he’s a little nervous about it.  

After the war, which stretched on far longer than it should have – there’d be many causalities and losses.  Like Emma, he’d been basically a teen dad to his godson, Teddy, and while Henry had technically grown up in Storybrooke without Emma, they both had memories of her raising Henry as well.  

And while he had the support of his friends, who had bandied together to fight the good fight, Emma had no one.  In either the real life or the fake memories that had been given to her when the curse had been undone.  She tended to be guarded, but Harry hoped building a life back in his home country would help her not be so alone.

So far, the first night back had seemingly gone well, and has they enjoy breakfast the day before his birthday, the floo lights and out pops Ron and George.  

“Harry!  You’re home!” Ron yells, gleefully, clapping a hand on his shoulder as George gives Teddy a hug.  “We’ve missed you.  Mum can’t wait to meet your new friends.”  He turns to Emma, the blonde looking wearily at him.  “Emma, right?  I’m Ron.”

Emma gives his hand an uncertain look.  “Yeah, uh, Emma, and my son, Henry.”

“Don’t worry, he won’t bite,” George teases.  “We’re just excited.  It’s been a while and Harry sounded so happy over the mirror, and the rebuilding has been difficult to say the least so… we just get a bit over-eager for happy moments.”

“You two could’ve waited more than twelve hours before visiting, you know,” Harry says, not at all worried about their over-eagerness.  It was only natural.  “That’s George, by the way.  He and Ron are brothers, you’ll meet Ginny and Charlie, and their mum tomorrow at the party.”

“That’s all that’s left of the once big Weasley family,” George states.  “But we’ve added new members like Harry, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Dean…”

“And of course, any kids, too,” Ron states.  “Teddy’s my favorite nephew but shush don’t tell the others.”  He gives Teddy a wink and a candy that immediately morphs him into a canary for a few seconds much to Henry’s shock and awe.

“Should’ve known better, Uncle Ron,” Teddy states, when he’s back to himself.  “Don’t worry, you’ll learn quick not to accept food from these two,” he says to Henry. 

“Magic is so interesting,” Henry states.  “I used to dislike it and after everything… I could if it wasn’t for you guys showing me how cool it is.”

Harry smiles.  “Magic can be a blessing and a curse.  Teddy, why don’t you show Henry some of the cool stuff in your room.”

“Sure, Dad,” Teddy says, before grabbing Henry’s hand and leading him up the stairs.  

Once they’re out of sight, Ron and George can’t wait to start talking to Emma.  “We can’t wait for you to meet everyone tomorrow…”

“And just so you know, even if you and Harry don’t work out, you’re a part of our family now, too,” George offers.

“Yeah, we’ve had get togethers and break ups before, and it always works out,” Ron states.  “Even if it can be awkward at times.”

Harry laughs, thinking of some of the more awkward moments between him and Dean since they both dated Ginny. “Once the Weasleys meet you – they’ve been known to adopt you.”

Emma smiles.  “After everything that’s happened recently, that actually sounds pretty good.”

“Good, then, welcome to the family.”

***

Harry’s birthday couldn’t be going any better.  Emma and Henry have been fully welcomed into their little found family – Henry is even learning quidditch with the other kids (as you don’t need magic to ride a broom) – and Emma looks quite happy chatting with Charlie despite his annoyance that she once killed a dragon.  

“You look happy,” Ginny comments.  “Emma seems great.”

Harry grins.  “I am.  Although I still want to help her get Storybrooke back, I’m happy that she seems to be blending into our little found family so well.”

“It helps, of course, that she already knew about magic – just a different kind of magic,” Hermione states, joining them.  “Made it easy for her to accept.”

“Henry did a lot of that work for me because she was supposedly quite stubborn about it before we met,” Harry states.  “But I can understand that – growing up not knowing about magic in that house, especially as an orphan... I was pretty skeptical.  Until a half-giant knocked down my door and proved magic existed.”

Ginny and Hermione laugh.  “I still can’t believe that’s how you found out.”

“And to think – it wasn’t even my nuttiest birthday,” Harry states, laughing.  “Dobby took the cake for that with whatever his big idea was on my twelfth birthday.”

“At least now, all of your birthdays are much better.”

“Yes, a party with my found family is way better than a house-elf ruining my birthday,” Harry agrees.  Then he lifts his glass, “And here’s to many more.”

“Cheers!”

[simplynotcapable]

So I’m going to take you up on your offer to expand on the Visenya-Baelon Supernatural AU please?

This got long, my bad! I rushed the ending a little realizing how long it got </3

Baelon’s born from a deal with a crossroads demon, which he doesn’t find out until he’s seventeen.

Aemma couldn’t have kids! And Viserys didn’t want to go any other route for having them: surrogacy or adoption, etc etc, because he’s very “but i want them to be OUR kids.”

When he hears about demons, he thinks it’s a joke. He’s a very logical sort of person, Viserys, thinks he’s smarter than he really is.

When he mentions it to Daemon, his wayward brother who blows in and out of town and is always covered in fresh scars he has lame excuses for, he thinks maybe it isn’t. It’s the way he goes pale and says “don’t even fucking think about that shit” so viciously that he’s got flames coming out of his eyes, but when has Viserys ever listened to Daemon?

The woman at the crossroads tells him her name’s Ali.

She looks at him with red eyes and red hair and soft skin and she asks if he wants to make a deal.

Aemma’s asleep when he comes home, when the smoke comes through her mouth, and Baelon is conceived when his mother is not really his mother at all.

Ali laughs-laughs-laughs even as she leaves Viserys’s wife crumpled on the bed.

Aemma thinks it was the strangest nightmare she’s ever had, and she tells Viserys all about it the next day. Smiling, uncomfortable, trying to convince herself it wasn’t real, and he kisses her quiet.

They tell Daemon she’s pregnant, and he punches Viserys across the face. “What did you do?” he hisses. “I told you, I told you not to even—what did you do?”

Nine months later, Baelon is born.

Nine months later, when the doctors are gone, when it’s just Viserys in the room with his wife and Daemon walking down the hall for vending machine chips, Aemma bleeds out. The doctors can’t stop it. They can’t even figure out why she’s bleeding, when she was perfectly fine just a moment ago.

The demons laugh-laugh-laugh and only the baby hears them.

“I can’t leave him,” he tells Daemon, broken, and his brother looks into the sky with his jaw clenched and doesn’t answer. “I’m all he has.”

(On the same night, Rhaenyra and Harwin Strong’s daughter is born, a howling little thing with dark curls and dark eyes.)

Daemon spends ten years trying to find a way to save his brother, and every day he fails he loses himself a little more.

Baelon grows up different than other children. Viserys doesn’t notice his son’s too-clever eyes or the way he sometimes goes so still that he looks like stone or how he plays with the fire in candles. How sometimes he tips his head like he’s listening to something no one else can hear.

He’s no Jesse Turner, not as strong or as important. His mother was no virgin and only possessed for the conception. But he’s something, and half of it didn’t come from anything mortal or holy. Half of it’s dark and it’s twisted and it’s waiting to wake up.

Viserys flings himself into work, into drinking, anything to avoid thinking about what he did and the price he’ll pay and his dead wife. He never remarries.

“I can’t leave him,” he told Daemon, but Baelon barely knows him at all. A hand on his head, sometimes, a word over dinner. An uncomfortable smile. Eyes that watch him like they don’t know who he is, really.

Ten years to the day of his deal, Daemon pulls into their driveway. He tells Baelon to pack a bag. He tells his brother goodbye.

“Is Dad coming?” Baelon asks.

“Your dad’s dead,” Daemon answers, even though Baelon can see him watching from the porch, and then he drives.

He asks what he means. Daemon waits two hours before he answers, looks down at his phone and then pulls over to the side of the road to get out of the car and scream.

“Your dad was sick,” he says when he gets back in. “It was terminal. He didn’t want to wait to get sicker. He shot himself. There won’t be a funeral. This is the last time we’re going to talk about it.”

Liar, liar, liar, whisper the voices always in the wind, but Baelon loves his uncle. He trusts him. The voices never say good things, anyway.

He thinks he should be more upset about his father, but he only cries a little.

They drive for hours and hours, and then down a dirt road and into the woods, and they park in front of a house with no neighbors and nothing around for miles and miles.

There’s a boy on the porch when they get out. Seventeen, maybe, eighteen, no older. He has Daemon’s face. He takes one look at Baelon and goes so pale he looks like he’s dying.

“He’s not mine,” Daemon calls, but the boy has already bolted into the house. He pushes Baelon behind him, cursing under his breath, and that’s right about when the pregnant woman comes outside with a gun.

“I told you if I ever saw you again—“

“Oh, Rhaenyra, put that down—“

“—I was going to shoot you dead—“

“—I didn’t have anywhere else to go, don’t point that shit at me—“

“—hell’s nice this time of year—“

Baelon watches them, very quietly, and from the house comes a spill of dark-haired children. Two little boys, no more than six and eight, with curious eyes and gaps in their front teeth.

A little girl, his age, with a smear of freckles on her nose, who looks at him and smiles.

He smiles back.

The woman notices him, and her face flickers. “Yours?” she asks and doesn’t wait for an answer. “His mother have a math test? That why he’s not with her?”

Daemon’s jaw clenches. “He’s my nephew. His mother’s dead. My brother, too.”

“Why would she be taking a math test?” Baelon wants to know, but neither of them answer.

“Condolences. Not my problem. Get out.”

“I can’t keep him, Rhaenyra.”

Baelon’s head snaps up. “What?”

Rhaenyra laughs in his face. “So you brought him here?”

“He’s got family here—“

“Aegon is mine. Harwin’s and mine. Neither of you have family here.”

The boy with Daemon’s face, he thinks. Standing in the doorway, watching with wide eyes.

“I can’t take him on the road with me!”

“Then don’t go back on the road!“

“You know I have to,” he says, and Rhaenyra’s jaw clenches. “You know why.”

Baelon doesn’t. Baelon would like to. Daemon ignores him when he asks.

“Go to Laena. She’ll take him.”

“Laena’s wife will shoot me if I show up there.”

“How old are the girls now?”

“Who?” asks Baelon.

“Fifteen,” answers Daemon, through his teeth, and Rhaenyra snorts. “Look, are you going to be able to sleep at night knowing I’m dragging a ten year old kid on hunts with me?”

“We went deer hunting last year,” Baelon points out. “I did fine.”

Rhaenyra looks down on him. She’s pretty, Baelon thinks, and she has that same silver hair his uncle has. His dad had. Her eyes are blue, though, bright and vivid.

“I’m Baelon,” he says. “My dad shot himself.”

She blinks.

“You can wait for Harwin,” she says, finally. “He’ll be back any minute. I’m not taking a kid without asking him first.” She looks at him more firmly, then gestures towards the trio of dark-haired children. The shotgun lowers from Daemon’s throat. “You can play, if you’d like. For awhile.”

He doesn’t want to.

Daemon shoves him, so he goes anyway.

The boys names’ are Jace and Luke, and he thinks they’re babies. Baelon usually thinks other kids are babies, even the ones that are his same age, because sometimes he feels a thousand years old.

Visenya, though, reaches out and touches his wrist when he first approaches. “I watched your mom die,” she says, very apologetically. “In my dreams last night.”

“I dream about monsters,” he says, and she shrugs.

“My dad kills monsters.”

Baelon likes Visenya.

Aegon doesn’t talk to him, not until Visenya drags him over to the older boy by the hand and glares.

“You’re Uncle Daemon’s son,” says Baelon.

“My father’s name is Harwin Strong,” the older boy snaps. “Your uncle is a sperm donor.”

“Uncle Daemon doesn’t donate to things,” Baelon informs him. “He thinks charity is for pussies.”

Aegon laughs, then looks at as if he can’t quite believe himself.

Daemon’s sitting on the hood of his car and Rhaenyra’s sitting on the porch when the trucks pulls in, and Baelon watches with some surprise when the biggest man he’s ever seen jumps out without even killing it just to fling Daemon on the ground.

“Nice to see you, Harwin,” Daemon says, and it’s only Rhaenyra calling out that keeps him from losing teeth.

Daemon and Rhaenyra and Harwin talk beside the car for a long time. In quiet voices. Visenya sneaks him into the shed.

Jace and Luke both tell her not to. They tell him they aren’t allowed in the shed alone, that Visenya’s going to get them in trouble, that she’s always getting them in trouble.

“You scared?” she asks him, and she’s still holding his hand so he’s telling the truth when he shakes his head.

There’s guns in the shed. Knives and guns and powders and plants and books and chains and all sorts of strange things that he thinks would belong in a serial killer’s house.

“What is all this?” he asks, fascinated.

“My dad kills monsters,” she says again, smiling.

“What about your mom?”

“Not anymore.”

“What about you?”

“Not yet.”

Daemon tells him goodbye as the sun is going down. “I’ll be back,” he promises, knelt in the dirt with his hands on his shoulders. “As often as I can. And I’ll call. You’re going to stay here with Rhaenyra and Harwin. Be good. Listen to them. They’re good people.”

“Take me with you,” Baelon says.

“One day,” Daemon answers, and he kisses him too rough on the forehead, “I’ll tell you why I can’t.”

He shakes Harwin’s hand—the bigger man squeezes so hard Baelon thinks he’s trying to break it—and nods to Rhaenyra. He asks them if they’ll go get Aegon out of the house so he can talk to them. Rhaenyra points the gun at him again, so he lifts his hands and gets in the car.

He drives away.

Harwin Strong looks down at him. “You sure you’re not his?”

He doesn’t sound angry, only curious.

Baelon considers. He’s always felt more like Daemon’s than Viserys’s, but he doesn’t think saying yes is right anyway.

“He’s mine,” Visenya says, sitting on the porch steps. “I saw it in a dream.”

“Go get cleaned up for dinner,” Rhaenyra says, as if this is the sort of thing that happens all the time, and Visenya grins at him and goes.

Baelon doesn’t mind living with the Strongs.

They fix the attic up for him, since Aegon and Jace are already doubled up and Luke is supposed to share with the baby when he’s born. He likes the attic, the big window and the weird way the shadows fall and the lights Harwin hangs up for him. They take him into town and let him buy a few posters, a rug. Pick out his own sheets, which Visenya deems hideous but doesn’t seem to mind sprawling all over when she comes into his room uninvited to tell him ghost stories she swears are true at two in the morning.

It’s odd living with a family, after so long being basically on his own. They aren’t his family, and he knows that. Feels it sometimes, like an ache, but he’s okay with it. He loves them anyway, and they love him, too, eventually.

Rhaenyra’s always there, fussing over her sons and trying to tame Visenya’s mess of hair, and she makes him sit at the kitchen table to do his homework instead of just asking him if it’s done. One of the kids at the school in town—Rhaenyra drives them every morning, is horrified when Baelon explains he’s never been to real school and his homeschooling was largely left up to him, and tells everyone he’s a child they’re fostering—pulls Visenya’s skirt up from behind, and they call Rhaenyra when Baelon breaks his nose.

“He touched my daughter,” says Rhaenyra, outraged, “I wouldn’t care if he broke the little shit’s wrist!”

She pulls him out early for the day and buys him ice cream.

Harwin leaves often but he always comes home, and he leaves his guns and other serial killer paraphernalia (“My dad isn’t a serial killer,” Visenya insists, “he kills monsters.”) in the shed. He makes them pancakes and tickles Luke until he cries and he rounds them all up outside to kick a ball and play tag and be sprayed with the hose while he laughs when they squeal about how cold it is.

“We ride the bikes up and down the road,” he explains to Baelon on one of these days. “You can use Aegon’s old one, he’s outgrown it now but Jace is still too small for it—“

“I can’t. I don’t know how to ride a bike,” Baelon answers, apologetically.

Harwin Strong’s eye twitches. He says something under his breath about his dad and maybe also Daemon, and then he hauls him outside and teaches him how to ride a bike. The other boys watch from the porch and heckle when he falls, but Aegon ruffles his hair when he finally gets it.

Aegon doesn’t like him at first, barely speaks to him, but he comes around eventually. When Daemon’s weekly phone calls turn to monthly turn to hardly ever, Aegon finds him and hands him half an orange.

“He stopped calling me, eventually, too,” he says, gruffly. “Don’t worry about it. The girls and I don’t.”

The girls are Daemon’s twin daughters, who live across the country. Baelon’s never spoken to them. Aegon calls them a lot, shows him a lot of pictures. They’re pretty, always laughing into the camera. Daemon’s only met them once.

“A monster killed Mom’s parents when she was sixteen,” Visenya explains to him after about a year. “Daemon killed the monster, and then he left. She called him when Aegon was born, but he didn’t meet him until he was nine.“

“But Daemon was like twenty-seven when your mom was sixteen,” Baelon laughs, shaking his head, and then he thinks about “his mom taking a math test?” and stops laughing.

Jace and Luke fold him into their every day lives as if he’s always been there, just another person at the dinner table and to add into their games and to fight with over the TV remote. Luke calls him “Bael” and he’s always asking him to help with his homework, even though first grade isn’t that hard. Jace makes him help with his ever growing collection of LEGO sets, which have begun to eat up the entirety of his side of the room—which Aegon sectioned off with a rope.

They aren’t his father and Daemon, the Strongs.

They notice he’s strange.

It’s alright, though, because Visenya’s strange, too.

She has odd dreams about things that happened already and are still going to happen, and sometimes when she touched someone she could tell what they were thinking. (“You think I’m pretty,” she laughs when they’re thirteen, her hand on his wrist, and he jerks away with a mortified blush.) She talks about her dreams like they’re real, and sometimes when Harwin goes to leave Visenya grabs his hand and whispers in his ear and he doesn’t go after all.

“Last time he left when I told him not to go, his dad died,” Visenya says, and Baelon nods like that makes all the sense in the world.

When he talks to shadows, Rhaenyra watches and asks him what they say. “They tell me secrets,” he tells her. “Sometimes they’re lying, though. They like to lie, if they think it will make me angry.”

She asks him what happens when he’s angry, and Baelon shrugs. “Sometimes nothing.”

Sometimes glass breaks and the earth cracks open.

When he puts his hand in the fire and nothing happens, Harwin asks him what it feels like. “Like when you try to grab water,” he explains, and he blows his fingers out.

He can read Latin, even though he’s never learned it, and he knows what the sigils in Harwin’s books mean without being told. He talks in his sleep, they tell him, and it’s not English.

“Shut up!” he tells the dog, once, when she won’t stop barking, and her mouth is still opening but the sound stops coming out. It wears off after a few days, but he starts being careful about telling anyone to do things.

Daemon visits once a year, maybe. Never for long. He isn’t allowed in the house. He asks how he is and if they’re treating him well and if he’s happy.

“You hunt monsters,” Baelon says when he’s fourteen, because he isn’t stupid and he knows Visenya isn’t joking anymore. Knows that Aegon and Harwin aren’t going on normal hunting trips. Knows that when Rhaenyra and Aegon argue, it isn’t just because he doesn’t want to go to college. Knows the books aren’t just a hobby and the weapons aren’t just a collection, that teaching all the kids to shoot and stab and defend themselves isn’t just paranoia, that the mythology lessons aren’t just weird family bonding time that Baelon is allowed to partake in because he lives there.

“I hunt monsters,” Daemon agrees. “Vampires, mostly. They killed your grandmother. Your grandfather, too.”

“Did my dad know?”

“People believe what they want to believe.”

“Did they kill my dad?”

Daemon looks away. “Your dad killed your dad. I told you not to ask about it.”

He’s sixteen when Visenya dares him to steal her dad’s old motorcycle, the one that sits unused in the shed.

They’ve been close since Daemon left him with her parents, and they only get closer. The kids at school say their names like one word, Baelon-and-Visenya and Visenya-and-Baelon, and sometimes Rhaenyra jokes that their heads are going to fuse if they keep leaning them together like that. He’s always with Visenya and Visenya is always with him, and they like the same music and movies, he likes when she reads to him even though he hates reading, she likes when he draws all over her hands.

The older they get, though, they both see the way Harwin and Rhaenyra watch them. Suspicious, almost, narrow eyes, and neither of them talk about it but it doesn’t go unnoticed that Rhaenyra needs to see Visenya in the kitchen every time she starts playing with his hair and that Harwin wants his help fixing the truck every time Visenya lays her legs across his lap.

He doesn’t blame them, really. Having a teenage boy living in your house with your teenage daughter must be stressful, especially since he’s pretty sure his pupils have been turning into little hearts every time he’s looked at her since they were twelve.

And he knows what they’ll think, if they find the motorcycle gone and the two of them gone with it. He loves Rhaenyra and Harwin, doesn’t want to make them angry, doesn’t want them to send him away. Doesn’t want them to think he can’t be trusted.

Visenya doesn’t care about that. She said “he’s mine” when they were ten years old, and, as far as she’s concerned, that’s all anyone should have needed.

“No,” he says.

“You scared?” she asks, and she grabs his hand when she laughs

Baelon steals the motorcycle.

They don’t go far, just up the road a ways, and they play tag in the woods like they’re eleven again. He catches her, and she trips him, and they land in a tangle on the ground, and they’re both laughing.

He doesn’t know which one of them kisses the other, but when they pull away there’s flowers blooming all around them.

“Did you do that?” she asks, grinning.

“Shut up,” he says, no heat in it, and he kisses her again. The voices have lots to say, none of it good, and he doesn’t give a fuck about any of it.

They get back before her parents notice, somehow, and they make it four months of hidden kisses and hiding out on the roof and whispers in corners before little Joffrey catches Visenya putting concealer on a hickey and then it’s like everyone knows all at once.

“A boy from school,” Visenya says, solemnly, but Rhaenyra takes one look at him and he can feel the guilt on his face.

Aegon’s moved out by then, a little apartment in town, and Baelon’s in his guest room just that quickly. Visenya pitches a holy fit about it, and Baelon’s not exactly ecstatic.

“She’s finishing high school,” Rhaenyra tells him, finger in his face. “She’s finishing high school, and she’s going to have options, and she can’t have any of that if she lets herself get tunnel vision on you.”

Rhaenyra is defensive of Visenya’s future after the sharp right turn Daemon’s interference sent her own life on, and he gets it, he gets it, he gets it, he does, he does, but he hates it. He misses the boys and he misses Rhaenyra and he misses Harwin and he misses Visenya like he thinks he’d miss it if they cut off his fingers.

“You see them every other day,” Aegon says, exasperatedly. “You’re so damn dramatic.”

Baelon is too busy checking for text messages to hear him.

Aegon takes him on a hunt, after a few months of Baelon moping about and only really brightening when they go back to the house so he can see Visenya and grovel to Nyra and Harwin—who aren’t even angry, really, they just also aren’t going to let their teenage daughter’s teenage boyfriend live upstairs for obvious reasons. He gives him very strict instructions not to tell anyone, looks down at his phone, sees Visenya informing him she had a dream about it and to be creful, and sighs.

But Baelon gets to burn bones! He shoots a ghost! With salt! It’s kind of fucking awesome! He goes a lot after that, attempts to get Aegon to bring Visenya too and is laughed out of the kitchen.

He’s seventeen when Harwin doesn’t come home.

Nyra’s a wreck, and the boys are panicking, and Visenya keeps taking handfuls of sleeping pills to try to dream an answer until Jace takes the bottle and flushes them down the toilet. Baelon has to physically pick her up and carry her out of the room, hissing and spitting, before she busts his lip.

“I can go,” Rhaenyra says.

“You haven’t hunted since Grandpa died,” Aegon says, irritable, because Rhaenyra used to leave the boys and Visenya with Lyonel to go with Harwin until the fire. “B and I will go, just tell us where—“

When Harwin walks through the door, there’s something wrong.

No one seems to notice but Baelon, flocking immediately towards him, demanding answers and pouring relief, but it’s the eyes. It’s his face when he looks over at Baelon. It’s the way the voices start whispering so quickly that he can’t make a word out.

“You’re shorter than I thought,” Harwin says, looking right at him over their heads.

Visenya’s hand touches her father’s arm, and she screams. He doesn’t know what she sees in him, but there’s no blood in her face and she’s crying so hard she can’t breathe.

When he swats her aside, she flies so hard she hits the wall, and then it’s Luke he’s holding up by the throat. Examining like he’s an odd little bug.

“Odd company you keep,” Harwin says, and his eyes are black-black-black. “Your mother wouldn’t approve.”

Luke’s squirming, and Aegon’s got a gun trained on it, but there’s no shot without hitting him too, no shot that will actually hurt it, and they all know it isn’t Harwin, they know what demons look like, but how can he shoot? Shoot Harwin? None of them know how to perform an exorcism. How to get it out of him.

“My mother’s dead,” Baelon says. “Put him down.”

“Not that mother,” the thing says. “The other one. She’s got four or five of you, now. It’s her favorite game.” It cocks Harwin’s head, it laughs. “Oh, you don’t know. We’ve told you, haven’t we? Don’t you ever listen? Daddy wasn’t the only one in Mommy when they made you.”

Told you, say the shadows.

“Get out of him,” Baelon hisses, and it snorts.

“Weak little thing, aren’t you?” it sighs, and then it grins and twisted towards him. “Your father, too. He screams and screams and screams.”

Aegon shoots. It hits it in the shoulder. It doesn’t flinch.

Luke’s neck snaps, and he hits the ground like a ragdoll. Against the wall, Visenya raises her bloody head just enough to scream. “Do that again, and it’ll be your mother,” it says with Harwin’s mouth, and Baelon can’t hear over Rhaenyra and Visenya and Joffrey and Jace. Aegon has no blood in his face.

“Imagine my surprise,” it says, half-singing, “when the little man with his holy water and good intentions had a head full of you. One of Ali’s little experiments, right nearby. I had to see. Couldn’t help myself.” It grins, conspiratorial. “She doesn’t like it if we go to any of you, not unless you call us first. So protective of her games.”

Baelon can’t stop looking at Luke.

“You’re more human than your brothers,” it tells him, almost disappointed. “Oh, there’s one of them, he’s already calling for us. Gives us souls, when he gets bored with them. Girls, mostly.”

“I don’t have any brothers,” he chokes out.

“And a sister,” it says, delighted, but it rolls its eyes. “She’s too human, too.”

“Get out of him,” he says again.

It sighs. “Boring, boring. What a waste of a deal. Your father gave his soul up for this?”

Baelon hears Rhaenyra whisper something to the boys, starts to turn his head when Jace voices a half-argument, and then shouts a wordless cry when she flings herself straight at her husband’s chest. Kicking and clawing and biting, and she howls for Aegon to “take them and go!”

Jace and Joffrey go, and Baelon bolts for Visenya before Aegon even has time to tell him to do it. He hears Rhaenyra’s head hit the wall. He hears blood hitting the ground, and Visenya’s yelling for her mother, and he’s got her dragged up onto her feet and the thing’s head swivels too far around to look out the opened door. He hears the snap of Harwin’s neck, and it just turns around again.

It sighs. “Boring. Boring, boring. I thought you’d be more interesting. The others will be so disappointed.”

It looks to Visenya, then, and it shakes Harwin’s head.

“Daddy always thought you were crazy,” it tells her, sickly sweet, and she lunges before Baelon can stop her. It laughs, lets her hit him in the chest, but then she grabs its face.

It flickers.

She hasn’t done it in years, grabbing for someone’s mind. Jace, he thinks, when he stole her dolls, when she was still too young to understand it was wrong. It’s different than her dreams and different when she reads feelings and thoughts. It feels like being torn in half. It feels like dying, when she sinks herself into your mind and rips.

Harwin’s eyes, for a moment, a slump of a corpse before they’re black again and it straightens up. Its face contorts and it reaches for her, and Baelon moves, and the shadows whisper, and he says, “Get out of him.”

Smoke. Smoke and smoke and smoke, and Harwin is twisting and choking and he’s dead when he hits the ground, Baelon knows that, and he looks at the smoke, and he knows how without knowing how he knows, and he hisses, “die.”

And it’s gone.

Just like that.

He and Visenya are standing amidst the corpse of her brother and her parents, their feet are soaked in blood, Visenya’s bleeding from her head, and Baelon tries to say something and then passes out.

He wakes in the back of the truck. Visenya next to him, Joffrey in her lap. Jace in the front seat. Aegon driving. No one speaks.

“Did you know?” he asks. “My dad? My mom?”

“Mom did,” Visenya says, and she looks at him with tired eyes. “I slept earlier. Dreamed it. Daemon told her.”

“Daemon knows.”

Aegon punches the steering wheel. Joffrey’s still crying. Jace has both fists pressed to his eyes.

“We’re going to Laena’s,” he says. “There’s nowhere else for you four to go.”

“Us four?” Visenya says. “But—“

“Not now,” he barks, and then softens. “Not now, Enya.”

It takes three days, and none of them talk about it. Not about Harwin or Rhaenyra or Luke. Not about Baelon. Not about what Baelon and Visenya did.

She’s outside when they get there. Barely older than Rhaenyra. The girls are in college, gone already, and Aegon walks straight into her arms and cries.

“We can’t stay,” Visenya says, that night, slipping into the guest room Laena put him in.

“I can’t,” he agrees. The others, it said, and he will not watch the rest of them die because his father dealt with demons. Because he shouldn’t exist. “You are.”

“You’re mine,” she says. “I go where you go. And you needed me. You couldn’t kill it until I helped. You won’t be able to kill anymore without me.”

“Who says I’m going to?”

“I know you,” she says, and she’s right. He has to, now that he knows that he can.

“Your mom wanted you to finish high school.”

“She’s dead,” Visenya says, dark and brutal. “Dad. Luke. Fuck that.”

He opens his arms, and she hides in them. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do it.”

Didn’t he?

“We’ll leave with Aegon,” she says, softly. “You know that’s what he’s going to be doing. It has to be. Looking for ways to kill them. So it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

That’s how hunters always start. That’s why hunters always die.

“I barely…I passed out. It’s not something I can just—“

“Probably like a muscle. You have to use it. It said you have brothers.“

“Said they were barely human.”

“Demons lie,” Visenya says. “What if they can help? What if it’s easier, with more of you? We can…Dad would want this.”

“No, he wouldn’t.”

“We want this,” she amends. “I want them all dead. For my mom and my dad and Luke.”

“The legions of hell?”

“Child’s play.”

A moment of silence.

“I need this,” she says, whispers it. “I need to do something. I can’t not do anything.”

Baelon asks Rhaenyra and Harwin’s forgiveness, wherever they are, and he kisses her

“If we do this, we start with the girl. And we stop, if we realize...if it wasn’t lying. If they’re all more demon than person, and I don’t ever get stronger. We stop. No matter what.”

“Alright,” she lies.

(Helaena listens to the spiders in her palms, solemn face and pursed lips, and then she walks to the window. She sighs. She waits.)

[wandaluvstacos]

Chapter 26 of Good Investment is now up on my Patreon!

Good Investment is available at the $5/month tier. People who pledge $5 a month have access to not only Good Investment but The Sponsors series (ongoing), Pretty Things (complete), May the Blood Run Pure (complete), and Kept Man (complete), along with the $1/month tier books, the Reflections trilogy (ongoing) and The Halfwife (ongoing).

Adri Schvaneveldt has always felt split between two worlds. In one world, they are the adopted child of a large and conservative Mormon family. In another, she is the CEO of a burgeoning fashion empire that pushes boundaries. But in order to be the latter, Adri first has to find the funding. After gaining a hefty following as a social media influencer/model, Adri has the potential customers– if they can get a reliable production model pounded out. And that means a bit of groveling at the feet of investors, most of who have never even heard the term “non-binary”.

But Adri lucks out with Gideon Snow, whose youth and open mind bring much needed funds to make Adri’s dream of diverse, accessible fashion a reality. Of course, lifting a newborn company to its feet is no small task, and late nights drive Adri to occasional stays at Gideon’s nearby house, where their relationship begins stretching beyond business. Adri knows they can’t put an entire business venture at risk for the turbulent whims of their heart. But reason doesn’t always win out.

Excerpt:

Adri wasn’t asked to get a hotel, but Adri decided to book a room anyway. Before dinner, Adri packed up all her things and headed downstairs, hoping cabs drove this far outside the city limits. She found Yvonne seated on the living room couch, playing one of her tablet games. Adri went to her and sat beside her, wanting to hug her but unsure of how Yvonne felt about it. Sometimes Yvonne was open to physical affection, but sometimes she rejected it quite vociferously, and Adri didn’t want to alert anyone to her presence downstairs yet.

Adri managed to find a ride to the hotel, though it wasn’t going to come cheap. Just before putting in the request, Adri’s father appeared in the threshold and saw Adri’s packed luggage.

“You’re leaving?” he asked.

“I think it’s best if I do.”

“Your mother’s been making dinner.”

“Dad.” Adri sighed and uncurled her legs. “You know why I can’t stay.”

Her dad stared for a second, then nodded and looked away. “I guess.”

“I’m going to call a cab, if that’s okay.”

“Cab to where?”

“Hotel.”

“Don’t do that. I can drive you.”

Adri stood up, perplexed. “But… after the argument, I thought…”

“I may be mad and confused by all of this, but you’re still my kid, aren’t you? Unless you’ve changed your mind about that, too?”

“I don’t want to argue, Dad. I just…” Adri rubbed their face with a hand. “Please.”

“Give me your suitcase then. I’ll take it out to the car.”

Adri pointed the biggest suitcase toward him, and her father took it to the foyer without a word. When Adri twisted around to look at Yvonne, it seemed she’d finally pulled her eyes away from her tablet.

“Hey,” Adri said. “Looks like I’m heading out. Want to say good-bye?”

Yvonne looked up from her tablet and frowned. She signed you go and Adri nodded.

“You want a hug?” Adri asked, knowing it was always best to ask first.

Yvonne nodded and stood, and Adri drew her into a hug with the amount of pressure that Yvonne liked. When Adri attempted to pull away, Yvonne clung on, so with a chuckle Adri stayed in the embrace until Yvonne was satisfied.

“I’m sorry I’m not staying until tomorrow. I guess you were in your room when I had a fight with Mom and Dad, but I don’t think I can stay the night.”

Yvonne appeared confused. “No, no,” she muttered.

“Yeah.” Adri swallowed, trying to maintain a façade of nonchalance for Yvonne’s sake. “Hopefully we’re on better terms soon. But I’ll miss you.”

Yvonne touched Adri’s shoulder, then placed her temple on it for a moment. Adri patted her back.

“Take care of Mom and Dad, alright? You’re good at that.”